37: The power of the magic vine, the collection of the eel monster!

The sound of flowing water echoed ceaselessly in the underground river.

Qin Zhizhi looked at the controlled Eel Demon, her emotions churning inside; she had almost used her blood serpent pearl just now.

The Corpse Crow's body rapidly shrunk, becoming just over ten inches tall, and flew to Shi Chuan's shoulder.

Shi Chuan cast a Soul Nurturing Art on the Eel Demon.

This allowed the Eel Demon's injured Divine Soul to receive some replenishment, its mind calmed, and it showed signs of waking up.

A moment later.

The Eel Demon slowly rose on the riverbank and respectfully prostrated itself before Shi Chuan.

"As expected of a mutated Bloodline, to recover so quickly after taking a hit from a Soul Burial Talisman."

"Aim at the stone in front of you and unleash your mutated innate Magical Artifact."

Shi Chuan commanded the mind-controlled Eel Demon.

"Buzz!" In an instant, the Eel Demon spewed out a mouthful of blood-colored Evil Qi from its mouth, which, like a red cloud, enveloped the ten-foot-tall rock Shi Chuan had indicated.

The rock was visibly corroded, and there was even residual demonic poison.

In just a few breaths, the rock was mostly corroded, leaving only a strange, oddly shaped rock shell.

"Is the mutation in the ability of this blood Evil Qi?"

"That's right."

"Both its corrosive ability and demonic poison effect are several times stronger than ordinary Corpse Evil Qi."

Shi Chuan looked at the rock shell in front of him, already having made his judgment.

Qin Zhizhi, standing by, looked at the rapidly corroded rock, a wave of lingering fear washing over her. The Eel Demon's innate Magical Artifact was so incredibly powerful.

If she, as bait, had been a little slower in using the power of the blood serpent pearl to protect herself, her body might have been left with some marks.

"It's just, how did my master know that such a demon was lurking beneath this river ditch?"

"Could it have been discovered by those Corpse Crows and Corpse Hounds?"

Qin Zhizhi's eyes held a hint of doubt.

"This is..."

"My master possesses the ability to control Evil Qi!?"

"Could it be... a Spirit Body!!"

The next moment, Qin Zhizhi saw her master raise his hand and, with a gesture, drew a wisp of that red smoke demonic Evil Qi onto his hand.

The demonic Evil Qi instantly merged into her master's hand, as if it had been devoured.

This scene made Qin Zhizhi's eyes widen, and in an instant, she understood many things.

No wonder her master cultivated in this Corpse Refining Cave, where Yin Evil Qi and Corpse Poison ran rampant; it turned out he also possessed a special Spirit Body.

Could concealing his whereabouts also be due to his unique Physique?

Qin Zhizhi couldn't help but feel a sense of empathy, and it seemed that all of her master's previous actions now made sense.

After all, Qin Zhizhi herself was chosen because she was detected to have a Blood Spirit Body, and then had a blood serpent pearl fused into her body, making her a vessel for the blood serpent pearl.

Afterward, she was even required to infiltrate the Yellow Springs Demon Sect to act as such a dangerous internal spy.

"It works!"

Feeling a surge of pure Spiritual Qi fed back by the Demonic Fiend Vine within his body, Shi Chuan's eyes lit up.

The quality and quantity of this pure Spiritual Qi were more than ten times stronger than the ordinary Corpse Evil Qi found in this Corpse Refining Cave.

If he could consume the blood Evil Qi spewed by this Eel Demon daily, the effect could rival a Medium Grade Spirit Pill!

The Demonic Fiend Vine would also grow faster.

After all, the Demonic Fiend Vine grows by absorbing countless Evil Qi and can also convert countless Evil Qi into Spiritual Qi.

This blood Evil Qi talent, awakened by the Eel Demon, was precisely what Shi Chuan needed.

Shi Chuan was in high spirits and, in one go, fed all the remaining Qi and Blood Pills from his Storage Pouch to the Eel Demon in front of him.

After consuming the Qi and Blood Pills, the Eel Demon's spirits improved slightly.

Subsequently, Shi Chuan ordered the Eel Demon to bring up all the treasures it had collected in its lair below.

There were quite a few Corpse Puppets with awakened intelligence in this underground dark river. This Corpse Refining Cave was once a massive pit containing hundreds of thousands of corpses, and some Cultivators who engaged in combat also met their demise here.

Buried somewhere unknown, within the long underground dark river, the Yin Evil Qi was extremely dense, giving birth to very powerful demons.

It was precisely because demons would occasionally emerge from the underground dark river and devour some Corpse Servants and Utility Disciples who ventured into it.

Therefore, it was written in the introductory book on Corpse Puppetry that the Yin Evil Qi in the underground river was extremely heavy, and Utility Disciples were not allowed to enter without permission.

This was likely closely related to the demons in the river.

"Master's Magical Artifacts are heaven-reaching. The Eel Demon's poisonous Evil Qi can be so easily neutralized by Master; it truly is an eye-opener for your Servant!"

At this moment, Qin Zhizhi quickly bowed and spoke.

"You also have some merit in this matter. Study this technique well; it will benefit your advancement to Mid-Stage Qi Refining!"

Shi Chuan glanced at Qin Zhizhi and tossed her a minor technique for controlling Spiritual Qi.

Although the technique's grade was only Low Grade, it could increase the precision of Spiritual Qi control, which was a significant aid for ordinary Cultivators advancing to Mid-Stage Qi Refining.

The Tier 2 Magical Artifact within Qin Zhizhi's body was integrated with her, and his mind control technique might have been interfered with by that Magical Artifact.

Qin Zhizhi was clearly different from a few days ago; her flattery skills had improved significantly.

However, the section of the Demonic Fiend Vine's tendril could still be clearly sensed.

And that tendril had already silently grown some tiny branches, like a root-like network, covering Qin Zhizhi's entire body.

It could be said that with just a thought from Shi Chuan, the tendrils of the Demonic Fiend Vine's main body could sprout from various parts of Qin Zhizhi's body, instantly destroying both her Physical Body and Divine Soul.

The Demonic Fiend Vine's method of controlling people was far superior to the mind control technique; it was truly a Sharp Weapon and very convenient to use.

"Thank you, Master, for bestowing this treasure!"

After receiving the Jade Slip, Qin Zhizhi sensed the Spiritual Qi control technique and bowed with a joyful expression.

Splash!

At this moment, the water surged.

In the dark river ahead, the Eel Demon's figure appeared, its mouth bulging. When it reached the gravel riverbank, it opened its mouth and spat out everything it held.

It all piled up into a small mountain nearly six or seven feet high.

Among them were various corroded Low Grade Magical Artifacts. A Magical Sword was left with only a hilt, which was also rusty and pitted.

Even without mentioning the blood Evil Qi that the Eel Demon cultivated, the underground dark river itself, due to its dense Yin Evil Qi, also had a corrosive effect.

Although they were Magical Artifacts, over years of accumulation, they couldn't withstand significant corrosion.

"Oh."

"A component of a Medium Grade Magical Artifact."

Shi Chuan raised his hand and pulled out a Flying Dagger that was only half-intact. The dagger's material was good; as a component of a Medium Grade Magical Artifact, it could be refined into some usable Artifact Refining Materials.

Then, the Eel Demon shook its massive head, rummaged through the small pile of Magical Artifact components a few times, and then bit onto an ancient, triangular copper bell.

The copper bell's surface showed little sign of corrosion, and its appearance seemed quite intact.

It was entirely dark green, an odd triangular copper bell.

"This is... a Tier 1 High Grade Magical Artifact!"

"Good!"

Shi Chuan took the triangular copper bell into his hand and confirmed it himself; it was indeed a High Grade Magical Artifact.

Although its external appearance was not significantly damaged, upon closer inspection, there was a sword mark, a penetrating gap, on the copper bell.

This gap could be matched from front to back, indicating that the copper bell had definitely been pierced by a Flying Sword previously.

Such an easy penetration could only be achieved by a Tier 2 Flying Sword.

It seemed that the one who fought with it must have been a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, and if so, the owner of this copper bell had no chance of survival.

This copper bell could be melted down to extract Artifact Refining Materials, which could then be added to the Profound Yin Banner to enhance the Magical Artifact's power.