Chapter 107: The Elixir Pouch

“Demonic insects? These women are quite ruthless.”

Seated in Qi Xiu’s rocking chair and hearing that many streets in the city had been sealed off under lockdown, Daoist Qingya rubbed his belly and muttered, “The force cultivated from the Wanyu Origin Scripture possesses a strange divine energy that accelerates maturation. It can drastically shorten the development time of demonic insects, turning them into adults in a short span. Although the vitality of these catalyzed insects is greatly reduced, it’s still enough to threaten ordinary people. It seems these women aren’t here to preach, but to massacre the city.”

Insect plagues are hard to guard against and highly contagious. While posing little threat to cultivators and unlikely to cause serious impact, for civilians without supernatural power, it’s a catastrophe.

“Yes, in just a few days, thousands have died. Nearly every household mourns, and white silk banners hang everywhere. Streets and alleys are littered with paper money. And it’s barely past the New Year.”

Qi Xiu’s expression was grim. He had gone out early today, seeing coffins everywhere along the street, now halted by the city’s lockdown as the dead could no longer be transported out. The county government had already ordered that those who died from the insect plague be cremated on-site in Zone XC. Thousands of bodies, flames roaring into the night, the acrid smell of burning flesh permeated all of Qingliu County.

“But isn’t this good news for you?”

The plump, rounded Daoist Qingya shook his body vigorously but found the rocking chair didn’t move at all. He beckoned to Qi Xiu, “I can’t rock myself; help me push.”

“Good news? Daoist, what do you mean?”

Qi Xiu approached and pushed the chair while questioning.

“Don’t you have a Spirit Pill Bag from the Demon-Eating Sect? Don’t know how to use it?”

Surprised, Daoist Qingya pointed to Qi Xiu’s chest with his stubby, carrot-like fingers.

“The Demon-Eating Sect? Spirit Pill Bag?”

Slightly startled, Qi Xiu rummaged through his pocket for the Gathering Treasure Bag.

“Daoist, do you mean this Gathering Treasure Bag?”

“Gathering Treasure Bag? Isn’t this the Spirit Pill Bag of the Demon-Eating Sect? Hmm, the scent is unmistakable.”

After examining the green jade-like bag woven with golden threads, Daoist Qingya said, “Seems so much of the ancient medieval history has been forgotten. This artifact is not called the Gathering Treasure Bag. It originated from a great demonic sect in medieval times—the Demon-Eating Sect. Ranked among the ten great demonic sects of the era, it proclaimed itself the devourer of all under heaven, mastering the demonic path.

“When disciples enter, they receive two magical tools: the Spirit Pill Bag and the Marvelous Medicine Pot. What you hold is the Spirit Pill Bag—a fearsome item. It can extract the spiritual essence from any living being or entity: humans, demons, birds, beasts, flowers, fish, even mountains, stones, rivers.

“Once enclosed in the bag, the spirit within is completely drained for your use. However, because the Demon-Eating Sect’s methods were so ruthless—drawing nourishment from all things—they were wiped out overnight. Their entire sect base vanished without a trace. The sudden disappearance left few relics or legacies behind. For you to have found such a complete Spirit Pill Bag is truly fortunate.”

After playing with the bag for a while, Daoist Qingya returned it to Qi Xiu.

“Then you mean… I should use this Spirit Pill Bag to capture those rampaging demonic insects within the city?”

Qi Xiu’s eyes sparkled with surprise as he examined the jade-green, gold-threaded Spirit Pill Bag in his hands, realizing its ancient demonic sect origin.

“Exactly. The insects lack intelligence and have weak individual power, so they can’t escape the bag’s suction. Though one insect yields little spiritual energy, mosquitoes are small but meat is meat. One is little, but ten, a hundred, or ten thousand? This is free Spirit Pills delivered to your doorstep. Why not take advantage?

“Moreover, these insects were catalyzed by the Wanyu Origin Force and still retain traces of that high-grade energy inside. This means the Spirit Pills refined from them will be of better quality. Ha! Those women probably never imagined that such a rare Spirit Pill Bag still existed in Qingliu County. All the painstakingly catalyzed insects will end up benefiting you.”

Laughing with malicious glee, Daoist Qingya, a grand cultivator forbidden from directly intervening in mortal conflicts, found joy in this indirect guidance. Especially since the Golden Flower Matron Sect’s cruel plan to exterminate all the civilians of Qingliu County had already crossed the bounds of humanity. Had this been years ago, he would have cast a sealing talisman to send them all into reincarnation. Now, this was lenient enough.

“Alright, I will try it tonight.”

After hearing Daoist Qingya’s advice, Qi Xiu’s eyes gleamed with eagerness. Settled in Qingliu County without demons to refine Spirit Pills from, he had been slowly advancing his cultivation relying on Spirit Pill Talismans. At this rate, it would take over a year to form his first True Gang Mark. If these insects could indeed be turned into Spirit Pills, it would be a blessing.

…

On a cold, bleak night, with pale moonlight barely shining, darkness cloaked the ancient county town. Shadows swayed among the trees, and a biting chill swept through the air.

Suddenly, from the distant mountain forests, a vast cloud of black insects rose, buzzing loudly and harshly, swarming from all directions toward the sleeping city.

In the moonlight, their terrifying slender silhouettes danced in the air like harbingers of death.

The county town seemed immersed in a dream, rendered more mysterious and terrifying beneath the insect swarm.

The once bustling streets and shops now stood deserted, candles on windows extinguished, leaving only darkness.

Inside Qingliu County Hall, bright lamps illuminated the chamber where Li Jiufang sat in the main seat, with several military commanders solemnly seated below.

“I wonder if the pest-repelling medicine from the Herbal Cottage works?”

After a moment of silence, a commander muttered softly, thickening the tense atmosphere.

Soon, some ugly flying insects entered the county hall through the courtyard.

The specially made insect-repelling incense from the Herbal Cottage had long been lit, filling the hall with curling blue smoke.

For a moment, a dozen pairs of eyes fixed intently on the insects entering.

Buzzing piercingly, the insects prepared to attack, but suddenly faltered mid-flight, swaying unsteadily before crashing toward the ground.

“It works!”

A glimmer of joy appeared in Li Jiufang’s eyes as he gripped the armrests tightly, his knuckles whitening slightly.

But before the smiles could fully spread, the faltering insects recovered somewhat, flying slower but showing no signs of dying.

Zhu Zhao swatted dead the insects flying at him, turning to Li Jiufang.

“County Magistrate, what do you suggest we do?”

…

“They’ve come.”

Sitting cross-legged in the courtyard, eyes closed in meditation, Qi Xiu slowly opened his eyes.

Above him, thick clouds churned and surged, dense swarms of insects buzzing and shrieking. This wave was larger and seemingly different in species from before.

The terrifying swarm threatened to engulf the entire Qingliu County.

Cowering civilians trembled in their rooms, fearful and petrified, staring at doors and windows.

Slowly forming hand seals, Qi Xiu’s form began to distort and blur, enveloped in a faint mist that suddenly transformed into a swift beam of light, silently flying toward the distance.

The small Five Elements Water teleportation beam was extremely fast.

Though Qi Xiu had yet to perfect this technique to the ideal range of a hundred miles with a single thought, his speed now neared supersonic.

In the vast void of night, a faint misty light swept across nearly half of Qingliu County.

Chanting incantations, Qi Xiu held the Spirit Pill Bag in one hand, emitting strong suction that relentlessly drew in every insect it passed by.

Charging through the swarm, Qi Xiu with the Spirit Pill Bag was like an eraser wiping out vast sections of the pests.

Countless demonic insects were swallowed into the Spirit Pill Bag.

Qi Xiu then activated the bag’s magic seal to refine the insects, extracting their spirit essence to form Spirit Pills.

Just as Daoist Qingya had said, though the insects were small, their sheer numbers allowed Qi Xiu to produce several pale red Spirit Pills that emitted a faint milky fragrance.

He took one and swallowed it.

Instantly, a vast surge of refined energy and spiritual power spread through his body, carrying a trace of special divine energy that subtly strengthened his life force.

“If this insect plague continues for a few more rounds, I’ll have enough Spirit Pills to form my first True Gang Mark.”

Nodding, Qi Xiu intensified his efforts, gathering every insect in the sky into the Spirit Pill Bag.

…

“Report! County Magistrate! A mysterious cultivator has appeared in the city and has captured all the invading demonic insects!”

The sudden news stirred a wave of astonishment and confusion in the county hall.

“All of them captured?”

Standing, Li Jiufang’s gaze grew serious.

“Yes, only a few scattered remnants remain, most have been killed by the townsfolk themselves,” the reporting soldier answered gravely.

“Military commanders, what do you think?”

Li Jiufang’s eyes flickered, and after a brief silence, he looked around at the commanders.

“Perhaps a recluse cultivator in the city took pity on the cruelty of the Golden Flower Matron Sect and intervened.”

“I doubt it. If they disliked it, why wait so long to act? I suspect something else is going on.”

“Whatever the tricks, they solved the insect plague. We should be thankful instead of doubting.”

“Indeed. Without this, nearly ten thousand people could have been parasitized and lost their lives.”

Listening to the chatter below, Li Jiufang sat back down, fingers slowly tracing the armrest, his expression solemn.

A mysterious cultivator?

…

(End of chapter)