blogombal Chapter 5 Monster Tide
Chapter 5 Monster Tide
Chapter 5 The Return of the Monsters
Captain Hao still hadn't returned the next day.
Chen Yi and his companions were assigned to deal with a low-grade demonic beast. When they received it, Chen Yi was surprised to find that it was a first-grade low-grade fire-scaled fish, with a single central scale that was entirely fiery red from head to tail.
Looking at the demonic beast, Old Zhang and the other two stared at Chen Yi expectantly, none of them daring to make a move.
The Firescale Fish's demonic power was concentrated on that red scale. Previously, Captain Hao would personally handle the key parts, while others dealt with other areas.
"How should we divide the work? This fire scale has about 36 scales. With four of us, should we each get nine scales?"
Chen Yi looked at the three of them.
All three shook their heads, their faces showing fear; they weren't stupid.
"Old Chen, your martial arts foundation has recovered somewhat. Why don't you do it for me?"
"Yeah, Brother Chen, with the captain gone, and considering your martial arts skills were once at the second-rate level, we'll have to rely on you to get these fire scales."
"Now they're calling Brother Chen," Chen Yi thought with a cold snort.
But he looked troubled: "This old man might die if I peel off all these fish scales. No, no, we all have to do it together."
In the end, Old Zhang gritted his teeth and said, "Old Chen, you do it for me. My dose of Qi and Blood Pills for today is yours."
This was exactly what Chen Yi had been waiting for. He showed a slightly tempted yet somewhat troubled expression.
Seeing Chen Yi's expression, the other two gritted their teeth and said, "We won't gamble today either. The Qi and Blood Pill is yours, Brother Chen. Thank you for your help."
Seeing this, Chen Yi had no choice but to reluctantly agree: "Alright then, we're all in the same room, so I'll take on more responsibility as an old man."
However, I will only deal with the fire scales from this line; the rest are yours.
"Of course," the three readily agreed.
After speaking, Chen Yi first covered his hands with his qi and blood, then used a grappling technique to swiftly pluck a black scale from the fish's gills.
The Firescale Fish, which the original owner had dealt with many times in his early years, had the hardest scales on its gills.
Using this black scale as a springboard, Chen Yi employed grappling techniques, covering it with qi and blood, and then using a combination of thrusting and deflecting movements.
In the blink of an eye, the row of fiery red scales flew up one by one and landed in the jade box.
The entire process was smooth and seamless. After everything was completed, Chen Yi's vital energy in his hands was completely depleted.
If he had even one more scale, he would have been seriously injured.
"Brother Chen! Your technique is amazing! You're not even a second-rate martial artist, yet you can handle the fire scales so easily. I think even without the captain, our team can manage with you here!"
Old Zhang and the others stared wide-eyed, their eyes filled with envy.
However, this method of descaling requires quick eyes and hands, and precise control of strength. It is impossible to do without more than a hundred repetitions of practice. These people also knew that they were not cut out for it and could not learn it.
Chen Yi looked weak. "I'm getting old. I have to use a lot of skill to peel a fire-scaled fish. I'm no match for Captain Hao. Don't talk nonsense and cause me trouble."
He was so modest in his words,
A series of prompts flashed through Chen Yi's mind:
[Host detected contact with fire demon spirit, intercepting 1%-2%]
[Based on the host's physical limits, 6% of the fire demon's spiritual essence has been extracted. Extraction complete.]
The spiritual energy of those dozens of scales dimmed somewhat without anyone noticing.
At this moment, the energy within Chen Yi's body tightened further, and his thoughts also became clearer.
His understanding of health-preserving exercises seems to have made a new breakthrough.
"It's a pity I don't cultivate fire-attribute martial arts, otherwise the spirituality of this fire-scaled fish would be even more useful to me!"
Chen Yi thought to himself, but he wasn't discouraged. Things weren't bad yet.
The spiritual energy he absorbed from the scales of this fire-scaled fish was far more effective than that from the half-demon treasure fish.
Moreover, this is just the beginning. As long as he is careful, he can extract the spiritual energy from the monsters almost continuously when dealing with them later.
Thinking of this, Chen Yi was in a good mood.
Chen Yi did the most difficult part.
The remaining work was completed by the other three, while Chen Yi stood aside practicing standing meditation.
The previous set of movements had already depleted Chen Yi's vital energy, so his current practice of standing in a stance to recover was perfectly normal to the others.
Even the administrators who were watching Chen Yi nodded silently when they saw him like this, without saying anything.
After all, for an old man in his twilight years to be able to handle the core scales of a low-grade demon beast is already quite impressive among old men.
Four Qi and Blood Pills will be delivered to the tent today. Chen Yi didn't hold back and took the Qi and Blood Pills from yesterday.
Health-preserving stance +1 +1 +1 +1
The flow of Qi and blood gradually strengthens and grows.
[Progress in absorbing alien spiritual energy: 49%]
After most of the day, those men finally finished dissecting the fire-scaled fish, their arms covered in wounds.
Chen Yi took the opportunity to practice the Nourishing Life Technique four times, improving his blood and energy, and his absorption of demonic power within his body reached nearly 50%.
He may look old on the outside, but internally, both his organ functions and his vital energy have recovered to the level of a middle-aged man in his forties.
While the group smoked to numb their senses, Chen Yi reported his work to the manager.
Chen Yi didn't need to share the four Qi and Blood Pills he received today; he would keep them all for himself.
If he continues to accumulate knowledge like this, it won't be long before he'll be able to go to the market and buy a cultivation manual.
That evening, Hao Youren returned in high spirits.
He smiled at everyone he met. When he returned to his room, Old Zhang and two others were out gambling and not home.
Hao Youren greeted Chen Yi, looking excited and beaming.
Judging from his condition, Chen Yi thought his martial arts seemed to have made a breakthrough:
"Congratulations, Captain, on your advancement to a first-class martial artist! You're so young; your future is limitless!"
"Haha, it's all thanks to your sharp eyes, Old Chen!"
Indeed, this captain has seen quite a lot of things this time with Steward Lin and Fairy Li. I was lucky enough to make a contribution when catching the fish demon in the lake and was given a Great Blood Pill by Fairy Li. I have finally stepped into the realm of Blood Transformation!
Old Chen, keep up the good work! I heard you've been doing well these past few days.
What a pity. If you were ten years younger, I would definitely pull you into our grand schemes.
The fairies said that recently, the monsters have returned, and many low-level monster fish in the lake have been pushed to the upper levels, making it much easier to hunt monsters.
This is a great opportunity for us martial artists to showcase our skills; many cultivators' demon-hunting teams are looking for martial artists to help them.
What a pity about your health, alas, what a pity!
"Captain, you flatter me too much. Even if I were ten years younger, I wouldn't be a fraction as brave as you, Captain."
"I would never dare to go and hunt demons with important figures. My own death would be a small matter, but delaying the important matters of the cultivators would be a much bigger one!"
"Hahaha, Old Chen, you really know your place. Here, I don't need these Qi and Blood Pills anymore, you can have them!"
As he spoke, Hao Youren tossed Chen Yi a palm-sized porcelain bottle containing about ten Qi and Blood Pills.
Chen Yi quickly thanked him, showering him with compliments.
Over the next two days, Hao Ren led Chen Yi and the others to complete two missions to deal with monsters.
He didn't take the Qi and Blood Pills that were offered, but gave them to Chen Yi and the others.
On the third day, Lin Youyou again specifically asked Hao Youren to go hunting demons in the lake.
Chen Yi then led the three to fish in the wheat field.
After a few days,
[Progress in absorbing alien spiritual energy: 89%]
The demonic power within Chen Yi's body had been almost entirely absorbed, and the meridians and internal organs that had been corroded over the years had been repaired by this demonic power.
After these few days of accumulation, his qi and blood strength had already recovered to the level of a second-rate martial artist at his peak, and he even had some energy left.
With his full power unleashed, his vital energy could completely cover both arms up to his shoulders.
Covered by the power of qi and blood, his arms seemed to have copper skin and iron bones, with tremendous strength, and he could easily lift a 500-pound millstone with both hands.
Whether working in the spirit wheat field or dealing with monsters, he would no longer get hurt.
Of course, what he showed was somewhat less than his true strength.
After all, if an old man who is on his deathbed recovers completely in less than ten days, he is easily dissected and studied.
However, Chen Yi couldn't stay looking like a dying old man forever; he had to eventually return to his normal appearance.
These past few days, he's been standing straighter and walking faster each day.
To outsiders, he now appears to have largely recovered to the appearance of someone in their forties, with much better health and vitality.
"Old Chen, you've actually recovered! How did you do that?"
When handing in the task at the Spirit Wheat Field, the steward asked in surprise.
Chen Yi whispered, "Manager, please don't tell anyone. Captain Hao got a great opportunity. He gave me all the Qi and Blood Pills he didn't need. Plus, I haven't been to Banyanmen these past few days, so my Qi and Blood have recovered to half of what I was when I was a second-rate martial artist."
"I see, so you've... turned over a new leaf! Keep up the good work, and we'll have a drink together sometime."
"I definitely will if I have the chance."
(End of this chapter)