Chapter 408 - 374: Experiment

Chapter 408: Chapter 374: Experiment

"Demon Nether Saliva?"

Inside Lixuan Pavilion, Nie Yun sat in his room, using his Celestial Eye Observation to watch the group’s entire conversation.

’I’ve heard of Demon Nether Saliva in my past life, too. It’s the saliva of the strongest experts from the Nether Race, a type of Demon. This saliva is known as the deadliest poison in the world. Just as the Manor Master said, even someone at the seventh or eighth level of the Secret Realm would die instantly upon contact!’

’My master is fake. I can keep up the act for a while, but I can’t actually afford to fall out with them... Highly Poisonous Spirit Rhinoceros Spring Water...’ Nie Yun’s brow furrowed into a tight knot.

’They don’t dare to move against me right now. In fact, they’re even willing to be extorted. It’s not because they’re afraid of me, but because they fear my nonexistent master!’

’If this master really existed, it wouldn’t be a problem. He could come out, beat up these two-faced bastards, and force them to hand over the truly pure Spirit Rhinoceros Spring Water. But unfortunately... this master is fake!’

’I can only rely on myself for everything!’

’Although my Soul Power is strong, my actual combat strength is paltry. I’m no match for these people. If I tried to fight them head-on, I’d be the only one to suffer!’

’It seems the only way is to increase my affinity with the spring water. As long as my affinity grows, this poison won’t be a problem. I might even be able to keep it and use it as a trump card!’

After thinking for a long time without coming up with a good plan, Nie Yun sighed and slipped into the Zihua Cave Mansion.

His only option now was to find a way to increase his affinity with the spring water. If he could raise his affinity, the poison would no longer be an issue.

...

Inside a secret chamber in the Cave Mansion, Mu Qing and Mu Xia sat before two gourds, one large and one small, their brows furrowed in concentration.

"How is it? Any results?" Nie Yun asked as he walked in.

"No results. We’re just outer disciples who have been abandoned by the Spirit Rhinoceros Spring. No matter how much we study it, I’m afraid we won’t find anything," the sisters Mu Qing and Mu Xia said, shaking their heads in unison with helpless expressions.

Within the Ancient City, outer disciples were considered abandoned, making it impossible for them to have any connection to the Spirit Rhinoceros Spring Water.

"Let me take a look." Nie Yun had already expected this outcome, so he wasn’t surprised. He simply nodded and sat down in front of the gourds.

"Celestial Eye, open!"

His Celestial Eye Talent began to spin rapidly. His gaze pierced straight into the spring water inside the gourds. Under the illumination of the Celestial Eye, every minute detail was laid bare, with no secrets to hide. Yet, after observing for a long time, he couldn’t find anything unusual. The liquid seemed no different from an ordinary drop of water.

If he had to point out a difference, it would be the wisp of Spiritual Qi rising from this spring water—something ordinary water didn’t have. It was almost as if it were alive.

’Looks like the Celestial Eye has no effect...’ Nie Yun shook his head helplessly.

’Logically, the Celestial Eye is a top-ten super talent; it should be able to spot any abnormality. The fact that even it failed just goes to show how bizarre this spring water is!’

’That City Lord from before was also a Tracking Master. He has no idea that I’m the true progenitor of tracking. Let’s see if the Tracking Master Talent will work...’

With a thought, he sent a stream of Tracking Qi into the spring water. But just like with the Celestial Eye Talent, it was like a stone sinking into the ocean—it had no effect at all.

’Right, what about my Soaring Water Talent? Since this thing is water, it should definitely be under the Soaring Water Talent’s domain...’

Suddenly, Nie Yun remembered his other talent, the Soaring Water Talent, and hurriedly sent a stream of Soaring Water Qi into it.

GLUG GLUG!

The moment the Soaring Water Qi entered, the Spirit Rhinoceros Spring Water immediately started to bubble.

’It’s working!’ Nie Yun’s eyes lit up. He shot to his feet, so excited he almost shouted aloud.

’More power!’

Since it was effective, Nie Yun immediately began pouring his Soaring Water Qi into it frantically.

BOOM!

The Little Gourd suddenly trembled violently, leaped into the air, and came crashing down on Nie Yun with a THUD.

"Shit!"

Hit by the gourd, Nie Yun felt as if his internal organs were about to be pulverized. He couldn’t even catch his breath.

After finally crawling out from under the gourd, he gasped for air...

The experiment had failed again!

’Even the Soaring Water Talent failed? What in the world is going on with this Spirit Rhinoceros Spring Water?’

’Become "stained with the spring water’s aura," and make your "soul fluctuations match the spring water’s"... How exactly am I supposed to communicate with this water and increase my affinity?’

With the failure of his Soaring Water Qi, Nie Yun didn’t dare to try anything else rashly. He carefully recalled the City Lord’s words and began to ponder them.

’The City Lord said that people from the Ancient City are stained with the spring water’s aura from birth, their soul fluctuations matching the water’s... but this water doesn’t have any soul fluctuations, does it?’

’Could he have been lying to me?’

’That’s unlikely. He probably told me the truth because he was certain I wouldn’t be able to communicate with the water anyway.’

’Stained with the spring water’s aura... stained by what? Soul fluctuations... Is it really impossible for me to use them?’

He had no idea how long he thought, but he couldn’t figure it out. Nie Yun shook his head helplessly. Just as he was about to give up, one of the Dantians in his Qi Sea began to slowly revolve.

’Hm? The Beast Taming Dantian? Why is this thing activating now?’

Startled out of his deep thought, he swept his soul over it and didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. The slowly revolving Dantian wasn’t the Soaring Water Dantian, nor was it the Celestial Eye Dantian. It was the Beast Taming Dantian, which he had barely used!

The Beast Taming Dantian corresponded to the Beast Tamer Talent and could produce Beast Taming Qi. A true Beast Tamer could only have five pets in their entire life. Nie Yun currently had four: Xiaohu, Xiaofong, Zi Tong, and Hei Yan. He still had one slot left on his Beast Taming Dantian.

’The Beast Taming Dantian is only for Beast Taming and subduing Demon Pets. What the hell does it have to do with this Spirit Rhinoceros Spring Water...’

’Hm? No, wait!’ Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck Nie Yun. ’In the past, Xiaohu and Xiaofong couldn’t speak; they were true Demon Beasts. Yet I could connect and communicate with them normally through my Beast Taming Dantian. Could it be... that the Beast Taming Dantian can also communicate with this uncommunicative spring water?’

At this thought, Nie Yun suppressed his excitement and hurriedly activated his Beast Taming Dantian, sending a stream of Beast Taming Qi into the water.

HUMMM!

The moment the Beast Taming Qi entered the spring water, a roar echoed in Nie Yun’s mind.

"Who is summoning me?"

An ancient, weathered voice resounded from some unknown distance, as profound as temple bells, deafening in its intensity.

"Are you the Spirit Rhinoceros Spring Water?" Nie Yun asked cautiously.

"I am not the Spirit Rhinoceros Spring Water. I am the Spirit Rhinoceros Spring!" the ancient voice replied slowly.

Its voice was deep, and its spiritual fluctuations were incredibly faint, as if they could sever at any moment.

"The Spirit Rhinoceros Spring? Aren’t you inside the Lingxi Celestial Palace...?" Nie Yun asked, startled.

"I am inside the Lingxi Celestial Palace, but I can sense the outside world through the spring water. Since you used Beast Taming Qi to summon me, I naturally responded," the Spirit Rhinoceros Spring said slowly.

"If you wish to communicate with me, you must enter the Lingxi Celestial Palace! Projecting my consciousness outside is too draining. I cannot maintain it for long!"

’Can’t maintain it for long? Projecting its consciousness...’

Nie Yun couldn’t wrap his head around the fact that this Spirit Rhinoceros Spring was sentient and that he could communicate with it using Beast Taming Qi. He couldn’t help but clench his fists.

"I can enter the Lingxi Celestial Palace to communicate with you, but I currently have zero affinity with the Spirit Rhinoceros Spring Water. Even if I get inside, it will be very troublesome. Can you increase my affinity with the water...?"

Nie Yun knew that his only hope of increasing his affinity was to rely on this Spirit Rhinoceros Spring, so he didn’t beat around the bush and asked directly.

"Increase your affinity? Hmm, very well. The fact that you can communicate with me means you already have at least sixty percent affinity. If you want to raise it further, you must enter the Lingxi Celestial Palace and see me... Alright, my consciousness can only hold out for this long..."

WHOOSH!

The ancient consciousness receded like a tide, and in the blink of an eye, Nie Yun could no longer sense it. He opened his eyes and saw the gourds still before him, the liquid still flowing inside.

’The Beast Taming Dantian can actually communicate with the Spirit Rhinoceros Spring? How strange...’

Letting out a breath, Nie Yun still couldn’t figure it out. He had tried every other method, yet it was the Beast Taming Dantian that allowed him to communicate with it.

’Sixty percent affinity? Haha, controlling this spring water shouldn’t be a problem now!’

Deciding not to dwell on what he couldn’t understand, Nie Yun stood up, walked over to the gourd, and reached out to grab it. The gourd, which had previously been as heavy as a mountain, now felt completely weightless in his hand, as light as a feather.

"Nie Yun, you... you have an affinity now?"

Seeing his action, the jaws of Mu Qing and Mu Xia nearly hit the floor in astonishment.

Nie Yun had just used his Beast Taming Dantian to communicate with the Spirit Rhinoceros Spring through mental fluctuations, so the two women had no idea what had been said.

"Yeah, I just had a bit of an epiphany," Nie Yun said casually.

’A bit of an epiphany? Is he even human...’

Hearing his explanation, both women felt their minds reel.

They had been here for hours and had figured out nothing. To think he just sat there for a short while and already gained an affinity... Comparisons truly are infuriating!

"I’ve heard that if the young geniuses of the Ancient City spend a long time with the Spirit Rhinoceros Spring Water, they can indeed increase their affinity. However, the highest anyone has reached is around ten points. Nie Yun, don’t tell me you already have ten points of affinity with this water!" Mu Xia asked doubtfully.

"That’s impossible. That’s a trait unique to the people of the Ancient City. Nie Yun isn’t even from the Ancient City, so how could he gain ten points of affinity just by sitting here for a bit? It’s absolutely impossible!"

Mu Qing waved her hand, cutting Mu Xia off.

"You’re right. To gain ten points of affinity at once... that would make him the greatest genius in the history of the Ancient City. That’s incredibly difficult!" Hearing her sister’s explanation, Mu Xia nodded as well. She asked doubtfully, "Nie Yun, how much affinity do you have with the Spirit Rhinoceros Spring Water now? Is it five points?"

Just having over one point of affinity was enough to lift the gourd easily, so when the women saw him pick it up so casually, they didn’t think his affinity had increased by much.

"Five points? Of course not..." Hearing the question, Nie Yun gave a wry smile.

’He doesn’t...’

Hearing his admission, Mu Qing and Mu Xia felt a little better. However, that feeling of relief didn’t even last a second before they heard the rest of his sentence. His next words nearly scared them to death.

"...I think I have around 60 points of affinity now. It seems to be 11 points higher than the most compatible person in the history of the Ancient City!" (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian.com to vote for it. Your support is my greatest motivation.)