Chapter 400: Chapter 62: The Visitor
Zhang Deming was taken aback for a moment, then said, "You think you can come and go as you please? What do you take me for, some cheap whore?"
Hearing this, the black shadow’s movements stiffened.
But Runes surged in Zhang Deming’s eyes as he pressed both hands to the ground.
Technique: Thorny Earth Spike!
The black shadow’s retreat faltered. He quickly dodged forward a short distance as dozens of Vines erupted from the ground behind him.
Developed Technique: Thorn Flower from the Thorn!
The black shadow had just dodged the thorny spikes coming from behind when countless more spikes erupted in a several-meter radius around him, trapping him in the center.
All the thorny vines shot skyward, resembling a blooming flower. Then, the flower’s petals closed in, enveloping him.
With no other choice, he could only transform back into black smoke and float out of the thorny area.
At that moment, the Light Wings on Zhang Deming’s back vibrated rapidly, and he shot like a bolt of lightning toward his opponent, who had just re-formed at close range.
CLANG...
A dagger and a Sword collided heavily.
Before his opponent could even breathe a sigh of relief, Zhang Deming suddenly grinned at him. The black shadow’s heart leaped in alarm, but it was already too late.
Developed Technique: Thorny Body Stab!
Countless spikes instantly erupted from the entire front of Zhang Deming’s body, shooting toward the black shadow who had just taken form. His whole torso became like the back of a hedgehog.
The black shadow’s specialized Defensive Technique was a variant Escape Skill. He wasn’t proficient in true frontal defense.
To be precise, few Cultivators who followed the Assassination Dao specialized in direct defenses like the Spiritual Shield.
Therefore, facing the countless spikes, a flicker of Spiritual Light appeared on his body. The crude Spiritual Shield he managed to form was shattered instantly.
Although he reacted quickly, spinning his dagger to chop down many of the incoming spikes, many still got through the dense barrage. He managed to avoid vital spots, but was pierced in several places.
Before Zhang Deming could press his attack, his opponent’s expression hardened. He once again turned into black smoke and floated back a short distance.
When he re-formed, his body was covered in bloodstains. He had also suffered some backlash from forcibly using his technique, and his face was unnaturally pale.
He glanced at Zhang Deming in confusion, noticing that his opponent wasn’t pressing his advantage. After a slight sigh of relief, he whispered, "I admit defeat this time. It was my..."
Zhang Deming smiled and shook his head, interrupting him. "You have indeed been defeated," he said, "but there’s no need to admit it."
The black shadow frowned. Just as he was about to speak again, his expression suddenly changed drastically.
"Noticed it, have you? Too late! After being pierced by so many of my thorny vines, the number of Spirit Species I injected into your body is more than enough to take your life," Zhang Deming said with a smile, watching his opponent’s expression.
"Wait, I..."
Technique: Vine Growth of the Spirit Species!
Before he could finish, his entire body stiffened. A jade-like vine emerged from his wide-open mouth.
A moment later, Jade Vines followed, sprouting from his eyes, nose, and ears.
At this moment, the black shadow had not yet expired. His whole body twitched ceaselessly, constantly shifting between his smoke and solid forms.
Zhang Deming said faintly, "My Spirit Species is a Tier Three Mastery technique. It also requires a physical wound to be planted."
"With such a major restriction, if you could still get rid of it so easily after it was successfully planted, then what would be the point of me cultivating this skill so diligently?"
As Zhang Deming spoke, the black shadow, who was shifting between solid and smoke forms, began to slow down until he finally became completely rigid.
Jade Vines began to sprout from every opening on his body. As his aura faded to a mere wisp, Vines even started emerging from his pores.
Zhang Deming watched coldly. Only when the man’s entire body had been completely transformed into a flowerpot of vines did Zhang Deming stop channeling his Spiritual Power.
Then, with A Thought, the overgrown Jade Vines began to move across the man’s body.
They continuously searched him, pulling out several items.
Two One-Star Magical Artifact daggers, several One-Star Array Cards, and a small, dusty cloth pouch.
Zhang Deming stared at the pouch, slightly stunned. It was another storage pouch.
One had to understand that among Loose Cultivators, not even every Great Cultivator at the Duality stage had a storage pouch. Even in the Celestial Spirit Sect, the vast majority of Tai Chi Stage Disciples didn’t have one.
It seemed this fellow was a highly professional Assassin.
Otherwise, as a Loose Cultivator, he couldn’t have been so wealthy. This storage pouch alone, even if it was only one cubic meter, would be worth five or six hundred Spirit Stones.
After all, storage pouches were considered One and Two-Star Artifacts at a minimum, but their selling price was closer to that of a Three-Star item.
Zhang Deming used the Vines to curl around the several items. A Spiritual Light flashed in his eyes, and only after confirming there were no hidden traps did he reach out and take them.
The Array Cards and daggers were merely well-crafted. Zhang Deming glanced at them before putting them into his own storage pouch.
All that was left was the dusty storage pouch. Full of anticipation, Zhang Deming opened it.
With just a glance, Zhang Deming was slightly taken aback.
Inside the storage pouch were only a few sets of clothes and two well-worn technique manuals that had clearly been studied repeatedly. Other than that, it was completely empty.
The three cubic meters of space seemed exceptionally vast.
Zhang Deming pocketed the storage pouch. By now, the Vines on the ground had finished their search and found no other Artifacts.
