Chapter 43: Thorn Spell

“Crack!”

A sudden thunderclap exploded.

The entire shantytown was wrapped in gray mist; the sky was thick with dark clouds, and pedestrians in the alleys gradually vanished.

A sudden heavy rainstorm began to fall over Qingyang Market and the shantytown.

Splash! Qin Ming had just been focusing his attention, accelerating the growth of the black withered vine.

He was startled by the sudden downpour and took shelter under the eaves.

His gaze locked tightly on the black withered vine.

Under the effect of the [Accelerate] term, it began to grow slowly.

Completely different from the frantic speed of the spiritual plants he had accelerated before.

Gradually.

The black withered vine sprouted three or four ink-colored vines, covered entirely in sharp thorns, emitting a seductive black radiance.

Just by looking, Qin Ming knew the thorns contained deadly poison! When the black vines grew to about one zhang in length, their growth stopped completely.

Several dozen ink-colored flower buds had formed on them.

Two of them spontaneously emitted two golden terms: [Name]: Withered Blood Poison Vine [Term]: Thorn Spell (Maturity 1%)

[Name]: Withered Blood Poison Vine [Term]: Abundant Blood Qi (Maturity 1%)

“Withered Blood Poison Vine?”

A flicker of confusion crossed Qin Ming’s face—he had never seen this plant in any spiritual plant manual.

He immediately pulled out Master Shi Yenong’s “Compendium of Rare Spiritual Plants” and began searching.

Long moments passed.

Qin Ming found no trace whatsoever of “Withered Blood Poison Vine” in the book.

“Could even a Master of Spiritual Plants not know this vine?”

What surprised him even more—

After using the [Accelerate] term just now, it had only caused this Withered Blood Poison Vine to bloom.

If this had been a Golden Spirit Rice plant, it would have been ready for harvest immediately.

Clearly, the maturation period of this Withered Blood Poison Vine was extremely long.

But the two terms that had just appeared made Qin Ming’s heart itch with desire.

His spiritual sense still held nine [Accelerate] terms.

Qin Ming gritted his teeth and used another [Accelerate].

Time passed slowly.

The flower buds of the Withered Blood Poison Vine gradually bloomed in the downpour.

The black flowers looked intensely alluring, shaped like withered palms.

The next day.

The effect of one [Accelerate] term had been consumed.

The Withered Blood Poison Vine’s maturity reached 20%.

“So hungry?”

Qin Ming was stunned.

“Looks like one [Accelerate] isn’t enough.”

“Increase the dosage!”

Qin Ming used another [Accelerate] term.

…

For seven straight days, Qin Ming didn’t sleep or rest.

He used five [Accelerate] terms in succession, finally ripening the fruit of the Withered Blood Poison Vine.

It bore over a dozen blood-colored fruits, each the size of a walnut.

Qin Ming carefully plucked the fruits.

Instantly, two green term leaves appeared in his spiritual sense.

[Thorn Spell]: Requires a spiritual plant seed as a medium; can be buried underground—when a beast or cultivator steps on the seed, thorns will ensnare them.

Can also be thrown directly to trap enemies.

The spell’s power depends on the strength of the spiritual seed—the stronger the seed, the better the effect.

“Still a set of linked terms?”

Qin Ming looked at the fruit in his hand and casually cracked one open.

Inside were dozens of tiny black spiritual seeds, no bigger than sesame grains.

Just this one fruit contained twenty to thirty spiritual seeds.

With this many Withered Blood Poison Vine seeds, he’d have enough for a long time.

Qin Ming immediately focused his mind on the [Thorn Spell] term.

A flood of spell knowledge filled his mind; he quickly mastered the method of casting it.

“I need to find a place to practice.” “After all, this black withered vine is impervious to fire and water, immune to blades and spears.”

“And it carries deadly poison—surely its power can’t be weak?”

Thinking this, Qin Ming

Immediately picked up his spiritual hoe and stepped out the door.

He dared not go far.

In the woods near the spiritual fields, he found a random spot and concealed himself.

Not long after,

A black-furred wild boar appeared in his line of sight.

It was casually rooting around, snuffling left and right.

Qin Ming’s eyes narrowed slightly.

He formed a hand seal and cast Thorn Spell, flinging one Withered Blood Poison Vine seed straight at the boar! *Ssssh!* Suddenly, a thick cluster of black vines erupted beneath the boar’s legs, covered in thorns, wrapping it tightly! The boar didn’t even have time to squeal.

The black, seductive poison thorns instantly pierced its thick, tough hide.

In an instant,

The boar’s eyes rolled white, its spirit instantly dimmed—as if its soul had been rapidly stripped away by some force.

It froze completely, not struggling at all.

Only two breaths passed.

The once-living boar had become a shriveled corpse.

Then the cluster of black thorn vines rapidly retreated, transforming into a dark red blood pearl that fell to the ground.

A strange light flashed in Qin Ming’s eyes.

He reached out, drawing the blood pearl into his hand.

Scanning the pearl with his spiritual sense, he found it contained not only the boar’s entire essence-blood, but also its spiritual core, trapped within.

“What use is this?”

Suddenly, a flash of insight struck him—he instinctively recalled the Withered Blood Poison Vine planted in the flowerbed.

“Could it be…”

After this test, Qin Ming’s heart surged with excitement.

He now had a completely new understanding of the Thorn Spell’s power.

Though everything had happened quickly,

Qin Ming had still caught it all.

“The poison of the Withered Blood Poison Vine seems capable of directly corroding the soul.”

“This technique will become a deadly secret weapon!”

“Under surprise conditions, even a Qi Refining late-stage cultivator could be caught off-guard.”

“Hehehe!”

Qin Ming returned to his room.

He placed the blood pearl he had just obtained near the Withered Blood Poison Vine.

The moment the vine encountered the blood pearl, it seemed ravenously thirsty.

It whipped its vines, snatching up the pearl.

Instantly absorbed and digested.

After completing this, the Withered Blood Poison Vine calmed again.

Its black poison thorns appeared even more seductive.

“As expected—the Thorn Spell cast from this Withered Blood Poison Vine seed—”

“Can replenish the mother plant.”

“Even though I used five [Accelerate] terms, this was worth it!”

Meanwhile,

Qin Ming felt the mysterious connection between himself and the poison vine deepen another step.

This Withered Blood Poison Vine still had tremendous potential for growth.

Qin Ming also looked forward to this with great anticipation.

He pondered for a while, considering his future plans.

Next, he would prepare to further ripen the Blood Locust Rice; he currently possessed two [Quality Upgrade] entries.

The flavor of Supreme Blood Locust Rice.

He very much wanted to try it.

As Qin Ming was thinking, the message talisman on his person stirred.

It was a message from the Administration Hall of Lingyu Gate.

“Comrade Qin, you have now cultivated three different Type-One Mid-Grade spiritual plants this year, meeting the qualifications for promotion to Mid-Grade Spiritual Planter. If you have time, please come to the Administration Hall for the assessment.”

“Additionally, the lease for the Ruan family compound has expired, and the restrictions have been lifted; Comrade Qin may move in at any time.”

(End of Chapter)