The Ink Cicada is a well-known hidden weapon among Qi Refining Stage Cultivators.
After injecting sufficient spiritual power, it can explode with terrifying speed, penetrate the enemy's body, and then violently explode.
Generally, with the power of the Ink Cicada, the death rate for Qi Refining Middle Stage Cultivators who are hit is as high as 70%. If a Qi Refining Late Stage Cultivator is carelessly struck, he can also be severely injured.
However, the origin of the Ink Cicada is mysterious and unknown, and its quantity is extremely rare, often making it difficult to obtain even one.
The price generally ranges from five hundred spiritual stones to seven hundred spiritual stones, and sometimes the price can even exceed one thousand.
The reason the Ink Cicada is so expensive is that it is one of the few life-saving hidden weapons that doesn't have high requirements for the user. Often, a Cultivator at Qi Refining second layer can initially unleash the power of the Ink Cicada.
This time, Qi Ping and Nan Jie killed the Black-Robed Robber. Even if they only obtained this one Ink Cicada, it could be said they made a huge profit.
Several hundred spiritual stones is a large amount. It would take Qi Ping and Nan Jie a long time to earn that much combined, even if they didn't eat, drink, or Cultivate!
And the spoils they obtained are far more than just this!
The two decided to set the Ink Cicada aside for now and deal with it later.
Spoils of War Two: Two black Low Grade magic tool magic robes!
Apart from a slight difference in size, these two magic robes were almost identical.
Although these two magic robes were pierced by the sharp tail stings of the Gold Marrow Bee during the battle, their basic toughness and defense were still intact, just with many small holes.
They could still provide considerable defense against damage from sword and saber slashes, or other Spell Techniques.
The reason these two magic robes were easily pierced was not because their defense was poor, but because the tail stings of the Gold Marrow Bee had too strong an attack power, far beyond what a Low Grade magic tool corresponding to the early Qi Refining Stage could resist. Perhaps a magic robe at the mid-grade magic tool level could have withstood a few hits.
Qi Ping and Nan Jie each took one of these two magic robes.
After getting the magic robe, Qi Ping immediately used spiritual energy washing to remove the bloodstains and dirt on it, then put it on under his clothes. This way, it wouldn't expose the black magic robe and could also increase his defense.
Coupled with the protective spiritual power from the Wood Shield Skill, Qi Ping immediately felt his safety had greatly increased.
Nan Jie also found a place with her back to Qi Ping and changed into the magic robe.
Spoils of War Three: Four storage bags.
Among the four storage bags, two had large spaces and two had small spaces.
Two of the storage bags were likely obtained by the Black-Robed Robber from plundering others. Qi Ping and Nan Jie each took two storage bags, which were also worth quite a few spiritual stones.
Spoils of War Four: One mid-grade magic tool saber and one sword.
Qi Ping used a saber, and Nan Jie used a sword. This spoil was also easy to divide.
Spoils of War Five: 372 Low Grade spiritual stones.
Although this amount of spiritual stones was not small, for robber cultivators, it was indeed not very much.
Qi Ping estimated that it was because these two had used the spiritual stones to buy magic robes or the Ink Cicada.
The two each divided 186 Low Grade spiritual stones.
Spoils of War Six: Two Qi Refining cultivation methods, one "Evergreen Art" and one "Vast Sea Art".
These two cultivation methods didn't have much advantage compared to the ones the two were currently cultivating, so their value was not great. The two each made a copy.
Spoils of War Seven: Some miscellaneous items of low value.
Qi Ping estimated that the valuable items had been sold by the two Black-Robed Robbers for spiritual stones to buy the Ink Cicada. These miscellaneous items were things that were dispensable and didn't have much value for distribution.
At this point, except for that one Ink Cicada, all the spoils of war were considered distributed.
Just as Qi Ping was about to speak to Nan Jie to discuss the distribution of the Ink Cicada, Nan Jie spoke first:
"Xiao Qi, you should keep this Ink Cicada. Your contribution this time was greater."
"More importantly, your current strength isn't high, and your combat experience isn't enough. Even with the contracted Gold Marrow Bee, it would be especially dangerous if you encountered a sudden enemy, so keeping it is of greater value to you. And I'm already close to breaking through to the fifth layer of Qi Refining."
Hearing Nan Jie's words, Qi Ping was slightly taken aback.
"Nan Jie, but in that case..."
Nan Jie clearly anticipated that Qi Ping would say this, so she quickly interrupted:
"I'm not finished yet! Although this Ink Cicada is for you to use first, after your strength increases, if this Ink Cicada hasn't been used yet, how about it belongs to me then?"
"Let me make it clear first, you can't secretly sell the Ink Cicada and then say you used it up!"
When Nan Jie said the last sentence, she pretended to look at Qi Ping very seriously.
And when Qi Ping heard these words, how could he not know that Nan Jie was openly taking care of him!
According to normal cultivation speed, even if he had the honey brewed by the Gold Marrow Bee Bee Swarm, it would be a long time before his strength increased. After all, Nan Jie didn't know that Qi Ping possessed the Plant Growth skill which could accelerate the growth of spiritual plants.
Furthermore, even if Qi Ping's strength increased and he quietly sold the Ink Cicada, Nan Jie would have no way to verify it.
Of course, Qi Ping wouldn't do that.
After the spoils of war were distributed, the two cautiously embarked on their return journey again.
With the magic robes and the Ink Cicada, their strength had also increased quite a bit, so they weren't as uneasy as before.
In the end, that Ink Cicada naturally ended up in Qi Ping's hands.
At the same time, Qi Ping also secretly made a decision to help Nan Jie break through to the fifth layer of Qi Refining, and even the Qi Refining Late Stage, as quickly as possible within his ability!
A copy of "Spiritual Beast Cultivation: Demon Insect Chapter" and an Ink Cicada. The former allowed Qi Ping to see more room for future development, while the latter could potentially save Qi Ping's life in a moment of crisis.
And the resources needed to break through to the Qi Refining Late Stage were far less valuable than these.
On the rest of their return journey, neither Qi Ping nor Nan Jie encountered any danger.
Not long after, the two successfully entered the range of the Cloud Mist Mountain Range.
"Finally back!"
Looking at the familiar mountain range before him, Qi Ping let out a big sigh of relief.
This trip was too dangerous. Don't look at how they won in the end. If the enemy had used the Ink Cicada from the beginning or in time, either Qi Ping or Nan Jie would have definitely died. Even the Gold Marrow Bee couldn't have saved them!
Fortunately, they were the ones who won!
"Yeah, finally back."
Nan Jie also showed a relieved expression.
This wasn't the first time she had encountered a life-or-death crisis, but it was the first time she felt so powerless at such a critical moment. No matter how many poisoning methods she had, they all seemed so pale and weak under that Ink Cicada.
Fortunately, this guy Qi Ping had such a powerful trump card hidden away as the Gold Marrow Bee, catching that Black-Robed man completely off guard.
By this point, the two also felt eager to return home; the outside world was too dangerous!
However, before they had walked much further, they saw a plump figure looking eagerly at the fork in the road ahead.
"Isn't that Zhou Pangzi? It looks like he's waiting for us?" Nan Jie looked at the plump figure with some doubt.
Zhou Pangzi was also a member of the Fusheng Society. He rented a mountain stream nestled against the mountains and by the water in the Cloud Mist Mountain Range, raising a flock of First Order Low Grade Black Spirit Ducks.
However, ever since he married a pair of Mortal twins and had two sets of boy-girl twins, he rarely participated in Fusheng Society activities. He basically stayed at home and only came out for the annual gathering or when there was an urgent matter.
It's likely he encountered something.
And when that plump figure saw Qi Ping and Nan Jie, he quickly came forward at a speed that didn't match his build:
"Nan Jie, Xiao Qi, I've been hoping you'd come back!"
"Brother Shan said you went to Qing Shi Market. I thought you would head straight home after coming back, so I came here to wait in advance."
Zhou Pangzi's face was mixed with anxiety and worry as he spoke.
"Brother Pang, did something happen?" Qi Ping asked.
"Sigh," Zhou Pangzi sighed before continuing, "The Black Spirit Ducks I'm raising seem to be sick. They haven't eaten or drunk for several days!"
"But I've checked many times and asked many friends to look, but no one can figure out what the problem is."
"Nan Jie, you are knowledgeable and experienced."
"Xiao Qi, you have also studied many books and farming knowledge."
"Can you two help me take a look? As long as you can solve it, you can ask for anything."
Hearing Zhou Pangzi's words, a wave of surprise rose in Qi Ping's heart.
It's another situation where the cause can't be determined, seeming somewhat similar to the Black Little Bee.
"Is this a coincidence? Or is there some deeper reason?" Qi Ping couldn't help but feel puzzled in his heart.
---