Chapter 244: Spirit Frog Essence

A hint of suspicion appeared in the eyes of those looking at the crowd; these mute people really are Immortal Masters of the Dao Yi Sect?

Seeing this, Ye Zhangqing helplessly stepped forward and said.

"Elder, we are indeed disciples of the Dao Yi Sect."

Seeing that there was finally a normal person, the village head rejoiced and hurriedly knelt on the ground; the villagers behind him seeing this also did the same.

"Elder, what are you doing.............."

The sudden action startled Ye Zhangqing, who quickly reached out to help, but the village head then said.

"Please, Immortal Master, act and save us."

"Elder, please rise first; speak slowly about what's happening."

Not knowing what these villagers sought, Ye Zhangqing could only have them rise first and truthfully explain the matter.

Trembling as they rose, the village head then truthfully told everyone what had recently happened in the village.

They and the many surrounding villages have lived generation after generation by the Heaven-Reaching River, relying on the mountains and water for sustenance, with almost everyone making a living from fishing.

Every day they fish on the river surface, then take the caught fish to nearby towns to sell, thus securing their livelihood.

However, just one month ago, a pair of Spirit Frog Essences suddenly appeared in the Heaven-Reaching River.

This pair of Spirit Frog Essences occupied the river surface and bred frenziedly, their speed astonishing.

In just a few short days, the river water was already filled with Spirit Frogs.

This caused the fish in the river to rapidly decline, and moreover, when they went into the river to fish, they would also be attacked by these Spirit Frogs.

Although these Spirit Frogs are not strong, they carry toxin; once contaminated, the skin quickly festers, and many nearby villages have already had numerous people infected by the toxin, making life unbearable.

As the village head spoke, several men nearby also removed their outer garments, revealing that their skin was indeed festering and oozing pus.

From the expressions of those few, it is clear that their wounds must be extremely painful.

Hong Zun, Qing Shi, and Zhāng Tiānzhèn quickly stepped forward to examine.

"It is indeed Spirit Frog poison."

"Fortunately, the poisoning is not deep and not difficult to treat."

With the three of them, curing this Spirit Frog poison is not difficult; even just enough First-Grade Detox Pill ground into powder can heal.

The real trouble is still those Spirit Frog Essences.

Spirit Frog Essences are extremely rare among the Demon Race in Dongzhou and are also quite special.

Generally, the Demon Race determines strength based on bloodline.

The stronger the bloodline, the higher the later growth limit; however, Spirit Frog Essences are born with weak, thin bloodlines.

It is extremely difficult for them to become demons, and their lifespan is short, remaining at the beast level their whole lives.

However, a tiny fraction of Spirit Frogs, due to some fortunate coincidences, eventually succeed in becoming demons, gaining a greatly extended lifespan.

Moreover, once a Spirit Frog Essence becomes a demon, regardless of its strength, its reproductive ability is absolutely monstrous.

There has been an example where a pair of Spirit Frog Essences, in just one year, utterly destroyed an entire city.

They did not rely on their own strength, but on their endless offspring, swarming into the city like a frog tide and utterly destroying it.

And this took only a few months, from nothing to existence.

I never expected the Heaven-Reaching River to also have Spirit Frog Essences; why would the sect not have been informed of such a matter?

It should have been reported to the sect immediately.

Hong Zun sent a message to ask Ye Zhangqing, who then asked the old village head; upon hearing, the old village head's reply was.

"Who said there was none? More than half a month ago, when we first discovered it, we had already reported it to the officials in the city, yet we never received a reply."

For such small villages, there is naturally no way to directly contact the Dao Yi Sect; usually they report to the lord of the nearby town, who then reports to the Dao Yi Sect.

Thus, the problem clearly lies with that town lord.

"Zhengping."

"Master."

"You take people to first treat these villagers and all the surrounding villages."

"Yes."

For now, rather than seeking trouble with the town lord, saving lives is the priority.

Soon, Zhao Zhengping led people to the various villages to treat those infected with the frog poison.

It's not a particularly difficult task; just wrap the medicine powder, though it does need to be changed several times.

This is also simple; leave enough medicine powder for the villagers, and they can change it themselves when needed.

While Zhao Zhengping was busy rescuing people, Hong Zun took Xu Jie, Ye Zhangqing, and others to the riverbank, while the others waited temporarily in Spirit City.

At the riverside, a glance shows that the river surface is indeed densely packed with Spirit Frogs.

It appears to have already reached a large scale.

"It's been more than a month."

Hong Zun sent a mental transmission with a slight frown, saying that given the number of these Spirit Frogs, it definitely hasn't been just one month.

However, upon hearing this, Ye Zhangqing speculated.

"Perhaps there is more than just one pair of Spirit Frog Essences?"

The villagers said there was only one pair of Spirit Frog Essences; judging by that, one month is indeed insufficient to breed so many Spirit Frogs.

But if there were more than one pair? After all, those villagers never actually saw a Spirit Frog Essence, and even those who did have died.

Upon hearing, Hong Zun nodded, acknowledging that this guess cannot be ruled out; however, if it were true, the matter would indeed be very troublesome.

First, if there were more than one pair of Spirit Frog Essences, the breeding speed would double.

Second, Spirit Frog Essences are naturally adept at hiding, and being in the Heaven-Reaching River, even if Hong Zun and the others personally act, they dare not say they could find them in a short time.

As the saying goes, all things in heaven and earth mutually generate and restrain; though the Spirit Frog Essence is weak in strength, it also possesses its own innate divine ability: to evade detection by Divine Sense.

Because its body surface has a layer of mucus, Divine Sense simply cannot lock onto the Spirit Frog Essence; that is why Hong Zun and them find it most troublesome.

But if we don't find the Spirit Frog Essence and merely kill these ordinary spirit frogs, we would have to keep killing until when? Moreover, even if we do kill them, it would be thankless work, ah.

Just as everyone was pondering countermeasures, Ye Zhangqing came to the riverside, casually grabbed a spirit frog, examined it closely, and discovered that this spirit frog was indeed bumpy.

How to put it? The wood worm may have been unpopular before, but at least it was white and chubby.

As for this spirit frog, just looking at it makes people break out in goosebumps involuntarily, especially for women.

Not seeing Zhao Rou, Zhong Ling and the others—right now they don't want to approach this riverbank, do they? They'd rather go fight a great demon than have anything to do with these spirit frogs; it's so disgusting.

Even when they saw Ye Zhangqing grab a spirit frog, Bai Hua Xianzi sent a mental message.

"No, it's so dirty."

But Ye Zhangqing paid no attention, looking at the spirit frog in his hand, he suddenly recalled a delicacy from his past life—just like this, it looks repulsive when alive, but once peeled and deboned, it becomes an absolutely popular delicacy that many people love to eat.