"I just can't seem to catch a break today," Yang Qing tiredly muttered. Even in the face of the attack, his demeanor was still as nonchalant as it was, when he step into the place.
Boom!
Yang Qing casually flicked his finger at the incoming golden streaks, causing an explosion as every streak was simultaneously blown apart by the single flick. The flick's momentum didn't wane as it charged toward the starlight crab, barreling it into the lake's bedrock causing a massive shockwave that spread all around the lake.
When the dust cleared, the starlight crab could be seen deeply entrenched into the bedrock that had caved in from its point of impact creating a 500-meter small weblike crater with the starlight crab at the center of it.
Its golden radiance was dimly flickering almost as if it would go out any minute and it had minute cracks all over its carapace down to its claws.
"I'll get to you in a minute," Yang Qing calmly said as he made his way to the yin mist form hawthorne. Yang Qing had shielded it from the aftermath of his attack but even without his intervention it would have survived albeit with a few cuts here and there.
The yin mist form hawthorne was light green with a luster that made it seem almost lightly crystal-like. There was a hazy white mist surrounding it almost like a cloak. Even though the mist seemed harmless at a glance, it had the ability to freeze a core formation expert to their death.
Those who could survive contact with it were those whose bodies had yin attributes like the starlight crab or those with strong pure yang attribute and could forcefully negate the properties of the mist.
Yang Qing casually waved the mist away as he placed his hand on the soil beneath it with crystal white particles and blue-white mist attached. Even though the yin mist form hawthorne was a valuable herb especially when it came to strengthening those with yin-based physiques, which was more likely what the starlight crab needed it for, Yang Qing had zero interest in it.
His true interests lay in the spirit meridian below it.
"Mmmh, it seems to be right below, the eyeless ash finch is perfect for this," Yang Qing muttered as he formed a seal that created a pebble-sized grey finch that had feathers that looked to be cindering with a dark grey flame around it. The place where its eyes should have been was hollow with a glyph gently floating in the cavity.
The moment the finch was fully formed it flew through the ground as a formless smoke. Yang Qing sat in a lotus position as he closed his eyes. A still silence ensued for the next five minutes with a half-conscious starlight crab fighting for dear life, a grieving Ellie up top, a man with a story, and Yang Qing whose eyes finally opened up with disappointment after the five minutes passed by.
"No jade yin liquid in this one…well that's a waste, it seems I beat up the crab for nothing," Yang Qing thought as he threw a look of pity in the direction of the crab.
Yang Qing full of remorse made his way to the starlight crab and dislodged it from the crack it was entrenched in. He used a bit of his qi to restore its injuries and carried it back to its favorite spot beneath the yin mist form hawthorne.
As if feeling that wasn't enough he took out a small violet oval-shaped object from his storage ring. The object was about the size of a thumb and one inch in diameter.
The starlight crab that had been making its peace with death a few seconds ago jumped in greedy delight as it charged toward the violet-colored object in Yang Qing's hands.
It seemed like it had forgotten its earlier lesson as it seemed to be charging up its golden streaks from before as it aimed at Yang Qing's hands.
"How are you this temperamental?" said Yang Qing as he chuckled. He caught the crab mid-attack and pinched it between his fingers dispelling the attack along with the carriage it had just brewed up.
Yang Qing wasn't sure but he could have sworn he heard an embarrassed chuckle coming from it that had a hint of fawning, which made him resize the starlight crab in a different light.
"I didn't imagine it," Yang Qing muttered as he noticed a glint in the starlight crab's eye which he was all too familiar with, how could he not when he had shown that same look countless times when Lei Weiyuan caught him in the midst of a scheme.
"Mmmh maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to take you with me, you could keep an eye on Ellie for me," Yang Qing said as he brought the starlight crab up to his eye level. The crab seemed like it had understood him as it repetitively nodded its head as it theatrically moved its claws.
"You're sure?" Yang Qing asked in surprise. The crab seemed to nod with even more enthusiasm as its gaze inadvertently fell on the violet egg-like object in Yang Qing's hands.
"So that's why?" Yang Qing thought as he dryly laughed at the crab's real motive showing.
"The yin mist form hawthorne isn't any worse compared to this," Yang Qing said to it as he pointed at the hawthorne.
The starlight crab threw Yang Qing a supercilious look filled with disdain almost as if to say
"What do you know, how can a mere herb be compared to that thing, I may be a crab but I'm no fool. I know the good stuff."
"Fine," Yang Qing chuckled as he threw the violet egg-shaped object to the starlight crab which joyously grabbed the object and pressed it against its mandibles with unconcealed greed.
Yang Qing wasn't too surprised with its reaction since the object was a wisdom pearl from a cyclone arc prawn that had just broken through to the palace realm. The insights contained in that pearl would save the starlight crab years of cultivation while also strengthening its foundations, once it started digesting all the information contained in that wisdom pearl.
As for the yin mist form hawthorne he had no use for it, so he decided to leave it there. Maybe it might gain spirituality or it may be a lucky encounter for some cultivator who stumbled onto the place like he did.
"Your name will be Starlight from now on and you'll be the caretaker of my pond. I have a thief that I need you to keep a regular eye on," said Yang Qing to the crab as he placed it on his shoulder. The crab nodded but Yang Qing had doubts if it even heard what he said.
"Doesn't matter, I have a new guard. As long as I train it up a bit, with the pearl and its bloodline it should be able to fend off Ellie in a couple of years.
Maybe this will push that gluttonous bird to pay more attention to her cultivation," Yang Qing thought as a scheming look flashed in his eyes.
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