Attacked by the Female Demon at the Beginning - Chapter 82

Chapter 82: Arrival of a New Divine Ability

Hearing the accusation, Jiang Hao remained calm and simply said,

“The bone flowers were problematic and damaged the spiritual field.”

“That’s a big accusation, Junior Brother. Are you suggesting that we from Hundred Bones Forest want to destroy your spiritual field?”

Li Kai stared at Jiang Hao with a hostile tone.

“Besides, why can the other spiritual fields grow just fine, but yours can’t? Can they all wait for us to come and discuss, but you’re special? Or do you think Hundred Bones Forest has no one left, and you can’t afford to offend Junior Brother?”

“You say the bone flowers are problematic, but you didn’t mention it when they were delivered or when you took the money. Now that they’re about to mature, suddenly there’s an issue. Is it really the bone flowers that are the problem, or is it you, Junior Brother?”

Li Kai spoke forcefully, absolving himself of all responsibility. It was as if the fault lay entirely with Duanqing Cliff.

Jiang Hao lowered his brows, not wanting to argue.

“But I did go to you, and if you hadn’t delayed so long, there wouldn’t have been a problem,” Cheng Chou said softly from the side.

“Hmph!” Li Kai looked coldly at the fearful Cheng Chou.

“Just because you from Duanqing Cliff call us, should we come running immediately? If we from Hundred Bones Forest call you, would you drop everything and run over? We entrusted the spiritual medicine to you because we didn’t have time to look after it ourselves. Isn’t it only right that we come a few days late? Is that your reason for destroying our bone flowers? Ridiculous.”

Jiang Hao waved his hand, sending Cheng Chou off to attend to his own matters, and then he got to the point.

“How does Senior Brother Li want to handle this? Now that it’s happened, let’s find a solution.”

“Alright, let’s find a solution,” Li Kai said, staring at Jiang Hao and beginning to calculate.

“A mature bone flower is worth five spirit stones, and you have a total of five hundred plants here, which adds up to two thousand five hundred spirit stones.”

“Weren’t the bone flowers only three spirit stones each?” Jiang Hao asked.

“That was before. After the battle at Tianqing Mountain, prices have gone up. You know that, don’t you, Junior Brother?” Li Kai said with a smile.

“You’re not going to say you don’t have the spirit stones, are you? I’ve heard you’ve made quite a few contributions, so you should be able to afford it.”

Li Kai was well aware of Jiang Hao’s achievements, having specifically asked some Senior Brothers about it.

He concluded that Jiang Hao had no real merit in front of a Nascent Soul and was merely pushed forward by Man Long to take the fall.

This way, Xuantian Sect would overlook Man Long and remember Jiang Hao. Man Long would reap the benefits, and Jiang Hao would bear the consequences. So, there was no need to take it seriously.

Otherwise, he would have to show some respect.

Jiang Hao was silent for a moment, thinking that no ordinary person would have so many spirit stones.

The other party was just after spirit stones, and asking for two thousand five was like asking for his life.

Making too big a fuss was not what they wanted to see. But he didn’t have two thousand five either.

Although he had been selling the Hundred Thousand Swords Talisman in the past few days, it wasn’t easy to sell, and he had only accumulated nine hundred spirit stones so far.

He couldn’t sell anymore in the coming days. Even if he sold the remaining twenty talismans, it wouldn’t be enough.

“Doesn’t Senior Brother want to take back the bone flowers?” Jiang Hao asked, looking at the pile of bone flowers stacked to one side.

“Of course, we’ll take them back. They’re our property, and it’s only right to do so,” Li Kai stated righteously.

“Shouldn’t that reduce the amount?” Jiang Hao focused his gaze on Li Kai.

“The bone flowers are ours, and the compensation is an apology to us. The two are not in conflict,” Li Kai said as if he had thought of something.

“Is it that you don’t have enough spirit stones, Junior Brother? No worries, I’ve heard you make spirit stones quite quickly. You can pay the rest within three months. We’re not unreasonable; we can give you time. If it’s really not possible, you can pay within six months, but you’ll need to pay some interest.”

Hearing this, Jiang Hao knew the other party had investigated him.

They were determined to get what they wanted from him.

“Alright,” Jiang Hao nodded, then took out five hundred spirit stones.

“Here’s five hundred for now, and I’ll make up the rest within three months.”

“Looks like Junior Brother is also easy to talk to. Alright then.”

Li Kai said, taking the five hundred spirit stones with a smile, then added, “I heard your spiritual field has lost a lot of nutrients. I have a treasure here that replenishes nutrients, which I’ll sell to Junior Brother for one thousand spirit stones, two for two thousand. You can pay it off within a year. These are the only two good items I have, and I wouldn’t sell them to anyone else for one thousand five hundred.”

“Alright,” Jiang Hao agreed.

Afterward, Jiang Hao took two black pearls and watched as Li Kai left.

At that moment, he activated his divine abilities and began to appraise him.

【Li Kai: Hundred Bones Forest inner disciple, late Foundation Establishment stage, obeying Ming Zuoquan’s orders to reclaim the Bone Flowers and incidentally extort you. Thinks you’re a naive, rich, and timid person, the perfect target he’s been longing for. Will report back to Ming Zuoquan in seven days.】

Ming Zuoquan?

Jiang Hao carefully recalled, remembering this person.

He should be a true disciple of Hundred Bones Forest, with at least an early Golden Core cultivation.

“There’s no appearance of Bai Ye. I don’t know what identity this Bai Ye has.”

Jiang Hao muttered to himself.

……

Seven days before going to report to Ming Zuoquan…

That’s quite a while.

Arriving at the Spiritual Medicine Garden and informing Cheng Chou that all was well, he buried two black beads in two different spiritual fields.

Sure enough, nutrients began to return.

But not as much as before; something more was needed to restore the fields to their original fertility.

That would have to wait for later.

He would come tomorrow to appraise the spiritual fields to see if there would be any surprises.

After returning, Jiang Hao began to comprehend the second form of the Heavenly Saber, Mountain Suppressor.

He occasionally practiced his cultivation diligently.

Sunrise and sunset.

Jiang Hao watered the Heavenly Fragrance Dao Flower and tended to the Spiritual Medicine Garden.

Tirelessly and without complaint.

……

Six days later.

In the early morning, Jiang Hao stood in the courtyard, the fragrance of the Heavenly Fragrance Dao Flower invading his nostrils.

He felt the presence of the Heavenly Fragrance Dao Flower, and his spirit became much more solid.

However, he didn’t come out early today because of the Heavenly Fragrance Dao Flower.

It was for the peach tree.

Today was the day it would take root and sprout.

The tender leaves had just pushed through the soil, as if peering into the world.

Next to it was a purple bubble.

【Divine Ability Fragment +1】

Although it wasn’t golden, the appearance of a purple one was even more delightful.

Since his divine abilities were full, he could now acquire a new one.

He didn’t rush to acquire it but appraised the peach tree again.

【Peach Tree Sapling: Related to the ancient divine Peach Tree, possesses a trace of the divine tree’s characteristics. After flowering, fruiting, and undergoing nirvana nine times, it will become a divine Peach Tree. Growing alongside divine objects and receiving a bowl of water every day will speed up its growth, and the peaches will be sweeter.】

“Also one bowl of water a day.”

Jiang Hao noticed that these things just needed daily watering.

Such a low cost.

He was curious if having more spirit stones would reveal a more luxurious growth method.

As for growing alongside divine objects, Jiang Hao didn’t pay much attention.

The Heavenly Fragrance Dao Flower was in the courtyard; as long as he was in the yard, it counted as growing together with a divine object.

This was also why the rabbit lay beside the Heavenly Fragrance Dao Flower every day.

Returning to his room, Jiang Hao sat cross-legged and glanced at his divine abilities.

【Divine Abilities: 3/3 (can be acquired)】

“Acquire.”

As Jiang Hao’s thought was issued, the divine abilities instantly reset, changing from acquirable to non-acquirable.

Afterward, Jiang Hao felt something emerging at his brow.

He understood that the new divine ability was related to his brow.

After a short time, he learned the name of the divine ability.

【Hidden Spirit Manifestation】