PDLP Chapter 149 Three-Way Gu Larva
Chapter 149 Three-Way Gu Larva
Chapter 149 Three Paths Gu Larva
Li Qingyi was already used to the system's occasional humor.
His gaze was fixed on reward number three.
"Three Paths Gu Larvae —"
"It feeds on resentment and poison—"
Li Qingyi gasped, realizing that this thing seemed to suit him perfectly.
The interrogation abruptly stopped at a crucial moment, pulling the person back from the brink of despair only to push them back into the abyss.
Isn't that kind of resentment and bitterness, born from repeated torment, excellent nourishment? Interesting.
Once the thought arose, it wouldn't go away.
"Now we have ways to protect ourselves when facing a half-step Foundation Establishment cultivator, but when facing a Foundation Establishment cultivator, we can only wait to die."
Since that's the case, it would be better to choose the Three Paths Gu.
"I choose three."
As soon as he finished speaking, a small, dark red insect suddenly appeared in front of him.
"Holy crap! Isn't this the Gu worm that Senior Yuanhuang left on me during the simulation?"
Li Qingyi finally understood why this reward had appeared; during the years she was under house arrest, this thing had been on her the whole time.
The Three Paths Gu was very intelligent and flew onto Li Qingyi's body on its own.
But a troublesome thing happened: he didn't know that this thing was about to be destroyed.
"Can't the system show me my properties panel?"
As Li Qingyi finished speaking, a white light screen actually appeared in front of him.
【Three Paths Gu (Larva)】
[Realm Level: Qi Refining Level 1 (0/100%)]
[Characteristics: Feeds on the resentment, malevolence, and malevolent energy of living beings. Growth increases its toxicity, stealth, and control range.]
Current status: Hungry (requires continuous eating to maintain vitality and growth).
It's clear at a glance.
"That's quite user-friendly." Li Qingyi's lips curled slightly, quite satisfied with the thoughtful system service.
In the following days, he refocused on reality and earned spirit stones.
He frequently checked the task list using the Listening Rain Pavilion token.
However, whether it's due to the approaching year-end and the subsequent lull in activity, or for other reasons, there are very few suitable and rewarding missions for late-stage Qi Refining cultivators.
Occasionally, a quest would pop up asking him to "hunt a monster at the eighth level of Qi Refining" or "explore the outer perimeter of an ancient cultivator's ruins." Often, he would barely read the location description before his token would show "quest accepted," a speed that was astonishing.
"Damn it, are all these assassins just camping out in front of the tokens to refresh them?"
After several unsuccessful attempts, Li Qingyi couldn't help but mutter a curse under her breath.
The competition within Tingyu Pavilion was even fiercer than he had anticipated.
Left with no other choice, he simply turned his attention to his own business.
He changed into casual clothes, looking like an ordinary rich young master, and began to stroll around and patrol the city of Xuan Ce.
The three brothels under Huanzhulou's name—Wangchunlou, Lianfangge, and Zuiyuexuan—were all bustling with activity and teeming with customers.
The girls were well-trained in demeanor, their management and scheduling were orderly, and their accounts were clear and well-organized.
The gambling den used to be plagued by hooligans causing trouble and competitors disrupting the business every now and then. But ever since Huanzhulou declared war on Zhenyanglou and received support from the Zhao family, most of these evil spirits have disappeared.
The gold and silver in the vault were piling up at a visible rate. Although they were of little use for cultivation, seeing the real sense of the family's prosperity, Li Qingyi felt a rare sense of satisfaction.
"Yue Chi and Leng Qiuyi are indeed adept at managing household affairs." He nodded to himself.
Especially Yue Chi, who may seem lazy and slick, is actually quick-witted and tactful, handling relationships with all sorts of people perfectly.
Leng Qiuyi, on the other hand, is calm and meticulous, handling accounts, personnel, and rules with utmost care.
What surprised him most was Mu Chunfeng.
When they met again in the secret chamber of Tingyu Pavilion, this subordinate's aura had stabilized at the sixth level of Qi Refining, and his eyes were calmer and sharper, clearly showing that he had not slacked off during this time.
"Lord, news has come from Linglong City that the Zhang family has begun to secretly clean up Zhenyang Tower's properties and spies, and conflicts between the two sides are gradually escalating."
Furthermore, I have noticed that several small families in Xuan Ce City have been in frequent contact with cultivators from other regions recently, suggesting some unusual activity.
Mu Chunfeng's report was clear and organized, and he also included his own analysis: "I suspect it may be related to Zhenyang Tower's subsequent retaliation."
Li Qingyi gave him an approving look.
Placing Mu Chunfeng in Tingyu Pavilion for a long time proved to be a great use of her.
He even briefly considered having Mu Chunfeng oversee all affairs at Huanzhulou, but quickly suppressed the thought.
Mu Chunfeng's abilities and temperament can be of greater value when applied to intelligence gathering and working in the shadows.
"You've done a good job. Keep an eye on things, and inform me of any unusual activity at Huanzhulou immediately."
Li Qingyi then bestowed upon him a bottle of elixirs and offered words of encouragement.
Six days passed in the blink of an eye.
Li Qingyi has practically become a common sight on the streets of Xuan Ce City.
During the day, he would either squat at a tea stall listening to the wandering monks boast, or drink alone in a restaurant observing passersby. In the evening, he would take a stroll through the gambling den, and at night, he would occasionally go to the top floor of his brothel to listen to music.
Just listening to the music.
He hadn't received the mission, his cultivation was stagnant due to a lack of crucial energy, and the Three Paths Gu larvae were constantly hungry due to a lack of suitable food.
"Making money, it turns out, isn't any easier than killing someone." He munched on a candied hawthorn skewer he'd just bought from a street vendor, the sweet and sour flavor melting in his mouth. Looking at the bustling crowd, he suddenly felt a pang of unease—
Not used to it.
Accustomed to the clash of swords, the scheming and plotting, and the life-or-death struggle, this seemingly peaceful life in the city gave him a strange sense of emptiness and restlessness.
Just as he was staring blankly at the candied hawthorn skewers, a steady footstep stopped beside him.
"Master Fang." The newcomer was a guard dressed in black, with a goose-feather saber at his waist, exuding a powerful aura. He respectfully clasped his hands in greeting, "The City Lord invites you. We hope you will come and have a chat with us."
Li Qingyi raised an eyebrow slightly, the sweet and sour feeling instantly diluted by a hint of wariness.
Lord Xuan Ce? Why are you looking for him at this time?
Having been in Xuan Ce City for several months, he stirred up a storm, wiped out several forces, and even openly declared war on Zhenyang Tower. The City Lord's Mansion remained invisible and never made any statement.
He once thought that Xuan Ce City had no city lord, or that it was just a nominal title held by some cultivator.
Why this sudden invitation?
However, since everyone else had already come, Li Qingyi had no choice but to follow.
Now that her strength has greatly increased, Li Qingyi's mentality is naturally different from before.
"lead the way."
Following the guards through the still bustling streets, we entered the vast and imposing city lord's mansion.
High walls and deep courtyards, with armored soldiers standing solemnly, create a world apart from the bustling city outside.
Li Qingyi felt a mix of emotions.
When I first came down from the Qin family and entered the city lord's mansion, I almost fell into someone's trap.
Thinking of Li Qinglian and Li Qingyi makes me chuckle.
The fact that the royal daughter of Youyue Kingdom recognized someone else as her father is likely to facilitate the setting up of the Blood Refining Array near Xuan Ce City.
Suddenly, Li Qingyi remembered that she had also given the Secret Box of the Moon to Miss Yudie to decipher.
He had also forgotten about this matter. He would wait and see what the city lord wanted to see him about before going to find Miss Yudie.
He chuckled self-deprecatingly, "I hope I don't end up like the city lord of Yishan City."
Upon entering the grand reception hall, a middle-aged man in a brocade robe, with a refined appearance and three long tufts of beard, quickly came to greet him. "Master Fang's esteemed presence truly honors my humble abode! I apologize for not being able to welcome you properly!"
Li Qingyi returned the greeting with a cupped hand, but her gaze subtly swept over the other person's entire body.
His aura was deep and his spiritual energy fluctuations were subtle, indicating that he was at the mid-stage of Qi Refining.
He cut to the chase, his tone calm: "Lord of the City, you are too kind. I have caused quite a stir in Xuan Ce City, and I have not yet paid my respects, which has been impolite of me. May I ask what brings you here today?"
Upon hearing this, the city lord said somewhat awkwardly, "To be honest, I was in seclusion at that time studying a cultivation technique, and all the affairs of the manor were handled by my son. Therefore, I did not have time to befriend you, which is truly regrettable. I hope you will not take offense."
Seclusion? Li Qingyi scoffed inwardly. Even a three-year-old child might not fully believe such an excuse.
He didn't point it out, but instead asked, "May I ask the city lord's name?"
"I am Li Linggui," the city lord said, stroking his beard, his gaze fixed on Li Qingyi's expression.
"Li?" Li Qingyi asked, "The city lord's surname is also Li? Could he be related to the royal family?"
A hint of surprise flashed in Li Lingui's eyes, as if he hadn't expected Li Qingyi to be unaware of such a matter. He then smiled and said, "That's right. The city lords under the jurisdiction of my Xuan Kingdom have always been members of the royal family or relatives of the empress. To be honest, my ancestors were also granted the title of king."
But later—alas, some changes occurred within the clan, and the title of king could not be inherited. He thus obtained the position of Lord of Xuan Ce City through various means, serving as a governor for the imperial court.
Li Qingyi nodded. So, as the Third Prince, shouldn't they bow to me?
Li Qingyi only thought it to herself and didn't intend to say it out loud.
Actually, he didn't have much feeling about this position. Although he could guess most of it, he wasn't interested in the power struggles within the royal family.
Suddenly, Li Qingyi changed her mind. "If I became a prince, could I get a huge amount of spirit stones for free? If I became emperor, wouldn't I have the resources of an entire country to use for simulations?"
With this idea in mind, Li Qingyi's heart immediately burned with excitement.
Li Lingui was unaware of Li Qingyi's ulterior motives, but seeing his ever-changing expression, he felt a chill run down his spine.
Is the poster here suffering from hysteria?
After thinking for a moment, he finally mustered up the courage to speak: "Master Fang, to be honest, I have invited you here today because I have a favor to ask of you—I would like to trouble you to lend a hand."