CHAPTER 35: CHAPTER 33: THORN TECHNIQUE

"Crack!"

A sudden clap of thunder exploded.

The entire shantytown was enveloped in gray mist, with dark clouds densely covering the sky, and pedestrians in the alley gradually faded away.

A sudden downpour began to descend on Qingyang Market and the shantytown.

Rumble, rumble, rumble!

Qin Ming had been focusing intently on ripening that black withered vine.

Startled by the abrupt heavy rain!

He hid beneath the eaves.

His gaze fixed tightly on the black withered vine.

Under the effect of the [Ripening] entry, it began to grow slowly.

Completely different from the crazy speed of the spirit plants he had ripened before.

Gradually.

The black withered vine sprouted three or four dark-colored vines, covered entirely with sharp thorns, emitting a demonic black gleam.

Just by looking, Qin Ming knew that the thorns contained potent toxins!

When the black vine grew to about ten feet long, it completely stopped growing.

Surprisingly, it blossomed into a dozen or so dark flower buds.

Among them, two buds respectively popped out two dazzling golden entries:

[Name]: Withered Blood Poison Vine [Entry]: Thorn Technique (Maturity 1%)

[Name]: Withered Blood Poison Vine [Entry]: Abundant Qi Blood (Maturity 1%)

"Withered Blood Poison Vine?"

Qin Ming’s face flickered with doubt; he had never seen such a spirit plant in any spirit plant book.

He immediately dug out the book "Spirit Plants and Wondrous Creatures" by a generation of Spirit Plant Master ’Shio Yanong’ and began searching.

After a long search.

Qin Ming found no clues about the ’Withered Blood Poison Vine’ in the book.

"Could it be that even the Spirit Plant Master is unaware of this vine?"

What stunned him even more was—

After using the [Ripening] entry, it merely caused the withered blood poison vine to blossom.

If it had been a Golden Spirit Rice, it might have matured and been harvested immediately.

Such a long maturity period for the withered blood poison vine was inconceivable.

Yet the two newly refreshed entries on it left Qin Ming immensely curious.

In his Sea of Consciousness, he still had nine [Ripening] entries left.

Qin Ming steeled his heart and used another [Ripening].

Time slowly passed.

In the torrential rain, the flower buds of the withered blood poison vine gently bloomed.

The black flowers appeared exceedingly enchanting, resembling shriveled hands.

The next day.

One [Ripening] entry’s effect was completely consumed.

The maturity of the withered blood poison vine reached 20%.

"So ravenous?"

Qin Ming was startled.

"It seems one ripening isn’t enough."

"Increase the dosage!"

Qin Ming used the [Ripening] entry again.

...

For seven consecutive days, Qin Ming worked tirelessly without sleep.

Continuously using up five [Ripening] entries, he finally ripened the fruit of the withered blood poison vine.

It bore over a dozen blood-red fruits, each about the size of a walnut.

Qin Ming cautiously picked these fruits.

Instantly, two green entry leaves appeared in his Sea of Consciousness.

[Thorn Technique]: Casting requires Spirit Plant Seeds as a medium, can be buried underground; passing Demon Beast or Cultivator, stepping on the seed will be entangled in thorns.

Spirit Seeds can also be thrown directly to trap the enemy.

The power of the magic depends on the Spirit Plant Seed: the stronger the seed, the better the casting effect.

"It refreshes as a set?"

Looking at the fruit of the withered blood poison vine in his hands, Qin Ming casually cracked one open.

Inside, he discovered black spirit seeds, each about the size of a sesame grain.

In the cracked fruit alone, there were twenty to thirty spirit seeds.

Such a quantity of withered blood poison vine spirit seeds was enough to last him a long time.

Qin Ming immediately activated the [Thorn Technique] entry with a thought.

A surge of magical knowledge flooded his mind, and he quickly grasped the casting method.

"I need to find a place to practice."

"Know that these black vines are impervious to water and fire, invulnerable to blades and weapons."

"Plus, they carry powerful toxins, so their power shouldn’t be underestimated, right?"

With this thought, Qin Ming grabbed the spiritual hoe and left the house.

He dared not venture too far.

In the woods near the Spirit Field, he casually found a spot and concealed himself.

Soon.

A wild boar with black hair appeared in his field of vision.

It leisurely snuffled around, rooting here and there.

Qin Ming narrowed his eyes slightly.

Pinching the seal with his hand, he cast Thorn Technique and flicked a withered blood poison vine spirit seed towards the wild boar!

Rustle!

Suddenly, a large cluster of black vines, covered fully in thorns, emerged beneath the wild boar’s limbs, tightly entangling it!

The boar didn’t even have time to scream.

The sinister black thorns instantly pierced its rough skin.

In an instant.

The boar’s eyes turned white, losing their sparkle; it seemed as if its divine soul was swiftly stripped away by some force.

It seemed to be fixed in place, unable to move, without struggling at all.

In just two breaths.

A moment ago, the lively wild boar had turned into a shriveled corpse.

Then the black thorn vines rapidly faded away, transforming into a dark red blood pearl, which fell to the ground.

Qin Ming’s eyes revealed a strange gleam.

He beckoned with his hand and the blood pearl was captured into his hand.

With his Spiritual Sense, Qin Ming scanned the blood pearl, discovering that it contained not only the entire essence blood of the boar but also its essence spirit, which was sealed within.

"What use could this have?"

Suddenly, a flash of insight appeared in his mind! He subconsciously recalled the withered blood poison vine planted in the flowerbed.

"Could it be..."

After this test, Qin Ming was extremely excited.

He now had a newfound understanding of the power of Thorn Technique.

Even though everything happened quickly earlier.

Qin Ming still captured the moment.

"The toxin of this withered blood poison vine seems to be capable of directly corroding divine souls."

"This technique can become a trump card in the future!"

"Unexpectedly, even late-stage Qi Cultivation practitioners might fall victim."

"Heh heh heh!"

Qin Ming returned to the house.

He placed the blood pearl he had just obtained near the withered blood poison vine.

At once, the vine seemed ravenous upon encountering the blood pearl.

It waved its vines and wrapped up the blood pearl.

Instantly digesting and absorbing it.

After doing all this, the withered blood poison vine returned to calm.

The black thorns looked even more enchanting.

"Indeed, the Thorn Technique cast by these Poison Vine Spirit Seeds."

"Can also nourish the withered blood poison vine mother body."

"Though I used five [Ripening] entries, it wasn’t a loss at all in this wave!"

Meanwhile.

Qin Ming felt the connection between himself and the poison vine deepening yet another step.

This withered blood poison vine seemed to have a lot of growth potential remaining.

Qin Ming looked forward to it immensely.

He contemplated for a while, pondering about his future plans.

Next, he planned to ripen the Blood Locust Rice once again; currently, he held two [Quality Upgrade] entries in his possession.

The taste of Top-Grade Blood Locust Rice.

He was eager to experience it.

As Qin Ming was thinking, the communication talisman on him stirred.

It was a message from the Steward Hall of the Spirit Feather Sect.

"Fellow Daoist Qin, this year you have cultivated three different types of Tier One Middle-Grade Spirit Plants, satisfying the qualifications to rise to Middle-Grade Spirit Plant Master. You are welcome to visit the Steward Hall for an assessment whenever you have time."

"Additionally, the lease for the Ruan Family Mansion has expired and the restrictions have been lifted; Fellow Daoist Qin is free to relocate and move in at any time."