Chapter 62: Looting Corpses And Identifying Bones Yields Gains,chance encounter On The Night Return
Fang Shu dragged a skeleton along. He circled around in the mountain forest, taking quite some effort, before finding another cave and entering it with the skeleton.
And this skeleton was none other than that of the First Calamity Immortal.
As Immortal Cultivators who had entered the Dao, Fang Shu and the others could be said to be full of treasures from head to toe.
Last time in the Paper Workshop, because he was wary of Black Tiger Hall, he didn’t dare take Cheng Guanzi’s bones, only taking the other’s Precious Blood to nourish the Long Tongue Sword, but now in the wilderness where no one could see, there were no such restrictions.
As long as he handled it well and didn’t carry the corresponding items back to the town, even if Black Tiger Hall had means more impressive than Follower Bug, it wouldn’t know it was Fang Shu’s doing.
Hiding in the cave, Fang Shu held the skeleton and first tapped on the other’s bones.
But a trace of disappointment appeared on his face.
The hardness of this skeleton was still decent, but clearly not as impressive as Cheng Guanzi’s.
“It seems Cheng Guanzi’s bones were so sturdy precisely because of Purple Lead Mica Milk.”
After careful thought, Fang Shu still focused his gaze on the other’s bones, his eyes lighting up slightly.
A First Calamity Immortal sent out to do this kind of dirty work obviously had a lower status than the “Rat Lord” mentioned by those people, and might have even passed the Tribulation relying on medicine for the breakthrough, unlikely to enjoy large amounts of Precious Medicine.
Under such circumstances, the person’s bones were still decent, which proved that Black Tiger Hall’s Secret Skill or Magic was exceptionally impressive in terms of bones!
Sure enough.
Fang Shu carefully examined this skeleton and found that the other’s skin membrane, muscles, and so on were unremarkable, nothing like Lead Skill and Insect Skill that could form Secret Script patterns on the body surface.
This further proved that Black Tiger Hall’s Secret Skill was most likely cultivated on the bones.
After repeated consideration, Fang Shu stood up, took out a Corpse Dissolving Talisman from his sleeve, stimulated it with Qi and Blood, and quickly threw the Talisman onto the corpse.
Sizzle sizzle sizzle!
A burst of foul-smelling green smoke immediately rose from the corpse, causing Fang Shu to retreat several steps.
It was his first time doing this kind of “kill and rob” work, and he was quite inexperienced.
When buying the Talisman, he only knew that the Corpse Dissolving Talisman could dissolve all the corpse’s features, flesh, and blood, leaving only the skeleton, also known as “Bone Shedding Talisman.”
It greatly facilitated Immortal Cultivators in destroying corpses and traces, but he didn’t know that using this Talisman made quite a bit of noise and had such a foul smell.
Fortunately, after enduring it for a while, the Talisman’s effect was decent.
The originally burly and robust strong man had turned into a skeleton, needing only to be washed with sand, soil, or clean water to remove any trace of flesh.
At the same time, the true appearance of the other’s entire skeleton was fully exposed to Fang Shu’s eyes.
It was yellowish in color, thick and rough, with Secret Scripts like carvings appearing on each bone, especially concentrated on the spine.
Fang Shu looked on in amazement, and the Dao Talisman in his mind stirred slightly, quickly capturing all these Secret Scripts into the Dao Talisman.
Secret Scripts were the essence of a Cultivation Method or Magic.
According to the Dao book, as long as one knew the Secret Script pattern of any Magic, even without knowing the specific cultivation steps, one could deduce the full picture of the Magic.
This was also why the people from Black Tiger Hall took Cheng Guanzi’s corpse bones back then.
Of course, deducing the full picture of a Magic was extremely difficult; even among the Nine Branches of Immortal Studies, generally only Immortal Cultivators from the Divination and Numerology branch had the mental strength and ability to do so.
Ordinary Immortal Cultivators, if they could analyze the Secret Script patterns, understand their general meaning and uses, and patch up flawed Cultivation Methods, would already find it extremely rare and valuable.
“But I’m different.” Fang Shu pondered, his eyes flickering.
He picked up the Black Tiger Hall Disciple’s bones one by one, not missing any part of the surface.
After examining all the traces on the other’s bones, a total of sixteen new Secret Scripts were recorded into his Dao Talisman.
As soon as these Secret Scripts entered the Dao Talisman, it began comparing and analyzing them based on the Secret Scripts Fang Shu already possessed:
【《Black Tiger Hall Cultivation Practice Secret Scripts seventeen in total》 recorded, analysis and deduction in progress……completeness unknown……Cultivation Method function unknown but suspected to be Bone Refining Secret Skill……missing Materials……
Estimated time for deduction and analysis: one thousand three hundred seventy-five days. Talisman Master may collect bone Materials, dissect and verify, to possibly speed up progress.】
Seeing the text that appeared in his mind’s Dao Talisman, the anticipation in Fang Shu’s eyes faded slightly, and he sighed lightly:
“One thousand three hundred seventy-five days, nearly four years……never mind.”
If he really waited four years, not to mention the Second Tribulation Marrow Refining stage, he would have long passed even the Third Tribulation Fat Refining.
Moreover, although Black Tiger Hall’s Secret Skill seemed decent, the Lead Skill and Insect Skill he cultivated were equally impressive; he already possessed two Immortal Merits, one primary and one auxiliary.
According to the Dojo Master’s instructions, practicing more would likely just waste effort and even backfire.
Thus, Fang Shu withdrew his gaze from the so-called “bone Materials” and ignored the Dao Talisman’s suggestion to “dissect and verify.”
Rather than wasting these “bone Materials” on promoting deduction, it was better to keep them first and sell them when the opportunity arose.
After deciding, Fang Shu immediately halted the Dao Talisman’s deduction in his mind, simply storing the seventeen Secret Scripts in the Secret Script library, then redirecting the Dao Talisman to fully focus on deducing Gu Technique.
Although the deduction attempt “failed” and he didn’t obtain Black Tiger Hall’s Cultivation Method, Fang Shu’s mood was not displeased; he still held considerable expectation.
This expectation was not for those Secret Scripts, but for the Dao Talisman.
“Nearly four years is a long time, but just by recording Secret Scripts from bones, it can deduce the full Cultivation Method, and the deduction speed can increase along with the number of Secret Scripts I comprehend.
If outsiders learned of this, it would still be a shocking and horrifying feat.”
Fang Shu’s gaze was full of expectation:
“If I don’t complete the full version, but only patch the fragments, the Dao Talisman’s deduction and repair speed will undoubtedly be even faster.”
By recording the Secret Scripts from the Black Tiger Hall Disciple today, he was also testing the Dao Talisman’s capabilities.
As expected, besides analyzing Secret Scripts based on Cultivation Methods, the Dao Talisman could also deduce Cultivation Methods based on Secret Scripts.
With this effect, Fang Shu’s channels for obtaining Cultivation Methods and Secret Techniques would undoubtedly broaden greatly.
He mused inwardly: “Complete Cultivation Methods are rare and precious, but flawed or hard-to-verify ones are said to be plentiful in the Monster Market outside the town.”
Perhaps what he would need to worry about in the future was not the variety or quantity of Cultivation Methods and Secret Techniques, but that his Dao Talisman’s mental power was limited and couldn’t deduce them all at once.
Therefore, when selecting fragmentary Cultivation Methods for deduction in the future, Fang Shu must choose those that were extremely precious and impressive, or particularly to his taste, to avoid wasting the Dao Talisman’s precious time.
At this thought, his mind wandered, and he looked at the Long Tongue Sword in his hand:
“Last time killing Cheng Guanzi, the Dao Talisman grew because of it. This time, it didn’t.
I wonder if next time I obtain Second Calamity Human Immortal’s blood, or when I pass the Second Tribulation, whether it will grow.”
Unfortunately, such things couldn’t be verified for the time being.
Moreover, the Precious Blood obtained today wasn’t even enough to properly nourish the Long Tongue Sword in his hand, let alone allocate to the Dao Talisman for sacrifice and refinement into a Second Tribulation Tongue Sword.
After quiet contemplation, Fang Shu immediately collected his thoughts.
He took out the Painted Skin Mask refined by Su Qin Gao, examined it carefully by firelight, and saw Secret Script patterns on the thin-as-cicada-wing Human Skin.
Without needing to think, he immediately used the Dao Talisman to record these Secret Scripts into the Secret Script library.
Immediately after, Fang Shu thought of something and searched the Black Tiger Hall Disciple’s skeleton again.
Even Su Qin Gao had refined a Painted Skin Magic Tool; the other was at least a First Calamity Immortal, so it couldn’t be that he only practiced Cultivation Practice without cultivating any Magic.
Sure enough, Fang Shu spotted in the pile of skeletons that the other’s left hand bones and palm bones were exceptionally thick; upon close inspection, they faintly resembled tiger bones rather than human bones.
Boldly manipulating them, he found that when rubbing the palm bones, each finger bone popped out half a foot long claws, which could combine to cover a full foot in palm range.
Moreover, those protruding claws also concealed Secret Script patterns, with Secret Scripts forming vein-like structures that could receive Qi and Blood infusion, clearly a First Tribulation Restriction Magic Tool.
Fang Shu lightly tapped the hand bones, hearing metallic clangs; if slapped onto a person, it would surely tear a living person to shreds easily.
As usual, he recorded the hidden Secret Scripts on the hand bones, but did not take the hand bones away.
He packed up, wrapping all Goods except a pile of Talisman Money and three Black Tickets in his Shoulder Bag, then left the cave, found a remote corner, buried them among the mountain rocks, and pasted a hiding Talisman on top.
This Talisman could to some extent isolate Spiritual Energy and smells, preventing wild beasts from digging, an essential for wilderness travel.
Its drawback was limited spiritual power, easily eroded by rain and such; left in the wild, it could last about half a month at most.
This was enough for Fang Shu; after the heat died down, he could retrieve everything leisurely.
Then, Fang Shu cautiously soaked the Talisman Money and Black Tickets in medicinal water, changed all his own gear, and threw the old items into the rushing river.
Feeling he had done everything flawlessly, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief and felt like retreating.
Looking up, Fang Shu saw that dusk had fallen, and it was only a tea’s time away from full night.
“Time to return!”
His mind tensed, and he immediately dashed toward Gu Ling Town.
Once night fell, Demonic Beasts, Monsters, and even ghost Spirits would come out; with his limited experience, even as an Immortal Cultivator now, it was best to return to town honestly.
Whoosh whoosh!
Fang Shu transformed into a fox, darting through the mountain forest.
Along the way, he didn’t encounter any other searchers; clearly, they had all given up and left in disappointment.
However, on a main road very close to Gu Ling Town, he suddenly sensed movement ahead.
Cautious as he was, he immediately crouched in the mountain forest, waiting for them to pass.
A burst of voices came from the town’s direction, sounding human rather than demonic:
“Senior Brother, it’s deep into the night; do we really have to come out? I heard the large groups during the day all returned empty-handed.”
“Shh! Quiet.” The other didn’t answer but lowered his voice upon passing the main road.
Hearing this, Fang Shu held his breath even more.
Soon, two figures hurried past on the main road, vanishing from his sight and hearing.
Squinting, he could only discern from their shapes one burly and one slender figure, likely a man and a woman.
Only after they were completely gone did Fang Shu rise.
Pondering their conversation, he felt a moment of surprise.
Though they hadn’t named each other, the voices sounded familiar.
Fang Shu searched his memory and quickly identified the highly likely identities.
The two passing the main road were precisely Ling Bai Quan and Xiao Li Li from Shao Wei Guan!
These two coming out deep into the night, though claiming to hunt Su Qin Gao, still felt off to Fang Shu.
A thought stirred in his mind, tempting him to go investigate.
But hesitating, he recalled the events at Shao Wei Guan. Looking up at the sky again, the wilderness was dangerous; he couldn’t take risks.
Whoosh.
Fang Shu immediately chose to head back along the road, putting what he saw and heard behind him, too lazy to bother.
Not long after nightfall, he successfully reached the outskirts of Gu Ling Town.
Staggering into town, he picked an empty corner without people or demons, shed the Fox Fur, wandered a few laps in town, then returned to Du Gu Guan without incident and lay down to rest.
Meanwhile, outside Gu Ling Town.
Xiao Li Li wore a tight outfit, looking valiant, but her face was tense as she followed Ling Bai Quan through the wilderness, repeatedly wanting to speak but holding back.
Seeing this, Ling Bai Quan finally slowed and explained:
“Junior Sister, rest assured; precisely because the daytime groups all failed, you and I must come out at night.
You know that Su woman is wanted by both the Marketplace and Black Tiger Hall. She burned a whole street; who knows how much she looted. Never mind gaining Black Tiger Hall’s goodwill upon capturing her.
Just the Goods she carries, if obtained and given to Uncle, might be enough to cover the deficit, appease Master, and avoid punishment.”
Hearing Ling Bai Quan’s explanation, a trace of intent appeared on Xiao Li Li’s face, but she still hesitated.
At this, Ling Bai Quan’s tone carried a hint of impatience:
“Does Junior Sister not trust Senior Brother?
If not, go back by yourself, but don’t tell anyone about us coming out tonight. Wait for good news from me!”
Xiao Li Li looked panicked and quickly said: “No no, Senior Brother, don’t blame me.”
Then, forcing a smile, she said relievedly:
“I almost forgot, Senior Brother is a Second Calamity Immortal; with Senior Brother’s protection, how could there be danger in mere wilderness within a hundred li.”
“Good that you know.” Ling Bai Quan responded flatly.
Thus, unseen by anyone, the two chatted and laughed, venturing ever deeper into the mountains away from Gu Ling Town.
