I Have an Omen System-Chapter 83 - 81: Soul-Devouring Poison

「Meanwhile.」

In an underground stronghold somewhere in Yong’an County.

A beautiful woman in palace attire, her face veiled, exuded an air of aloof, cold elegance. She too looked puzzled. ’Strange, why have the disciples become so much more efficient at hunting Dao Demons lately?’ she thought.

The beautiful woman had dignified features and skin whiter than snow. Her Crimson Mist Palace Attire was as fiery as a blazing flame.

Her eyes were filled with deep confusion.

...

Billowing black smoke surged into the sky.

In the crimson flames, another mortal village was reduced to scorched earth.

After finishing his carving, Qin Xuan put away the Spirit-Collecting Gold, and his figure slowly materialized several dozen li away.

"Fewer and fewer Cultivators from the Taiyi True View have been coming out to work lately. They’re getting lazy. I give them a bad review."

Wei Qingyi stood to the side with his arms crossed, a disappointed look on his face.

Qin Xuan smiled but said nothing.

’It’s better than nothing,’ he thought. The blood-red Demon Jade in his robes flashed with a faint light.

Trial Progress: 188/1000

He put away the blood-red Demon Jade, tucking it back into his robes.

He looked up toward the distance.

A majestic Daoist monastery sat atop a high mountain, barely visible.

For the past few days, Qin Xuan had been wandering through Yong’an County, venturing ever deeper and reaping benefits by tailing the Daoists of Taiyi True View.

Perhaps it was because he had ventured so deep into the heartland of Taiyi True View.

Things had quieted down considerably in the past few days. Very few Daoists came out to slaughter mortals and collect their blood.

Of course, "very few" didn’t mean "none." There were still some.

He never made a move himself. He would just quietly watch the performance of those sanctimonious Daoists, and when the show was over, Qin Xuan would emerge to reap his harvest.

It was convenient, quick, and he even got to watch a good show.

Qin Xuan couldn’t help but find it immensely satisfying.

His Cultivation also skyrocketed as if he were riding a rocket. In just one short month, he had fully stabilized his Foundation Establishment Second Level.

He had to admit, Wei Qingyi was truly powerful.

Even when he was right in front of Cultivators of the same level, they couldn’t detect him at all, which allowed Qin Xuan to devour a great deal of their blood and qi.

However, while cultivating by devouring fresh blood was fast...

...the drawback of practicing a Demon Skill was now becoming apparent for the first time.

’Devouring too much mortal blood seems to have side effects.’

Qin Xuan’s expression was grave as he slowly opened his palm.

On his once-fair palm, pitch-black Demon Patterns, shaped like centipedes, spread out from his wrist. They were hideous and terrifying.

The most noticeable change was that the speed of his Cultivation improvement was slowing down.

His Demonic Essence would become sluggish and stagnant as it passed through his wrist.

It was like an impurity. For every thousand mortals’ blood he devoured, another faint Demon Pattern would appear.

But when he devoured the Daoists from Taiyi True View, there was no change at all.

"It’s nothing. That’s Blood Essence Demon Filth. Mortals eat all sorts of grains, so their aura is turbid.

Cultivators, on the other hand, absorb the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi. Of course there’s going to be a difference."

"You’ve just devoured too much mortal blood. When we get back, I can dispel the poison for you."

"Anyway, enough about that. Come, come."

Wei Qingyi waved him over from the side. "Junior Brother Qin, that Landscape Scroll we ’collaborated’ on a while back is getting a lot of attention!"

"But the discussion level isn’t high enough, so it hasn’t met the Holy Sect’s requirements for Merit Points. Come help me boost it with a few comments."

"Alright." Qin Xuan took out his White Jade Demon Order.

After much thought, Qin Xuan spent ten Contribution Points to leave a comment for Wei Qingyi in the comment section.

"The White Robe Incense Master is very handsome, just a little lacking compared to the junior brother in green robes beside him."

"Don’t leave a bad review."

Wei Qingyi, not trusting him, craned his long neck to try and peek, giving a special warning.

Qin Xuan covered his Token and wrote quickly. "Don’t worry, Senior Brother. I’m complimenting you on how handsome you are."

Wei Qingyi nodded in satisfaction and casually swiped a few times at his own White Jade Demon Order.

"Good, you know what’s good for you. I’m actually very open to feedback. I usually just delete the bad reviews."

"Unless someone insults me so badly that I think, ’Damn, this kid has a point,’ then I block their account too."

"Senior Brother is truly magnanimous."

Qin Xuan gave him a thumbs-up, then logged into his White Jade Demon Order, wanting to see if anyone had liked his comment.

But when he clicked on the Landscape Scroll, a red exclamation mark suddenly popped up on his White Jade Demon Order.

[You have been blocked by this Incense Master. Please regulate your speech and conduct!]

"???"

Qin Xuan’s face was a mask of question marks. He looked up in shock at the sanctimonious-looking Wei Qingyi.

’Senior Brother, this is what you call being open to feedback???’

...

「Time flowed by like water.」

At their last stop before reaching Taiyi True View.

In a mortal tavern, Wei Qingyi, already drunk, filled three large celadon sea bowls for Qin Xuan.

"Junior Brother Qin, what are you spacing out for? Come on, let’s drink."

Qin Xuan had no idea how many times he had been through this kind of scene over the past few days.

Eating, drinking, whoring, and gambling—there was nothing Wei Qingyi didn’t enjoy.

Everywhere they went, Wei Qingyi would visit the local Yihong Courtyard or Imperial Music Bureau to "experience the hardships of the common folk of Daqian."

As for drinking, Wei Qingyi didn’t like to drink alone. He preferred to have drinking competitions with Qin Xuan.

They would each pour three sea bowls, and without using their Cultivation, whoever got drunk first would lose.

At first, Qin Xuan had been very cautious, testing for poison every time they drank. But it was never poisoned, which made things quite awkward.

This time was the same.

"Junior Brother Qin, you still don’t trust me? How could it be poisoned? Do I look like that kind of despicable person?"

Wei Qingyi’s face was red with anger.

Qin Xuan put down his Silver Needle Poison Testing Spiritual Artifact. After finding no poison in any of the bowls, he finally relaxed.

"Senior Brother, what are you talking about? I’m just worried that someone might be plotting against us in the shadows, trying to murder us both!"

Qin Xuan said with a chuckle.

He was just about to drink them all down from left to right, as usual.

But at that very moment, the giant sphere of light in his mind suddenly flickered.

Three Ancient Bamboo Sticks flew out from it.

[Middle-Middle Draw: Take the sea bowl on the right. No poison, no harm. Neutral.]

[Middle-Lower Draw: Take the middle sea bowl. You will be afflicted with a dizzying poison, your Demon Cultivator aura will be exposed, and your life may be in danger. Ominous.]

[The Worst Draw: Take the sea bowl on the left. You will be afflicted with Soul-Devouring Poison, your mind will instantly weaken, and you will die on the spot. Greatly Ominous!]

A tidal wave of shock crashed through Qin Xuan’s mind.

’Damn it, this bastard is really trying to kill me!’

’Who could have guarded against this? If it weren’t for the Golden Finger’s warning, I’d be dead by now... ’

Though thunder roared in his heart, Qin Xuan’s expression remained unchanged. Instead, he offered a faint smile and handed the leftmost sea bowl, which he had just picked up, to Wei Qingyi.

"Senior Brother Wei, you drink this one. I’ll drink the one on the right."

Wei Qingyi didn’t seem to mind at all. "Look at you, playing these little tricks again. If you want me to drink it, I’ll drink it."

With that, right under Qin Xuan’s nose, the drunken Wei Qingyi tilted his head back and, GULP GULP GULP, downed the bowl of wine laced with Soul-Devouring Poison.

"See, Junior Brother Qin? I told you it was fine. You still don’t... PTHOO!"

Before he could finish his sentence, Wei Qingyi violently spat out a large mouthful of fresh blood, his aura rapidly weakening.

Qin Xuan’s pupils contracted violently.

"Murder! It’s murder!"

The mortals drinking nearby were scared out of their wits.

In an instant, the entire tavern descended into chaos. Within a few breaths, the crowd of mortals had scattered like birds and beasts.

In the vast tavern, all that remained were Wei Qingyi’s cold corpse, his eyes wide open in death, and Qin Xuan.

Qin Xuan took a deep breath, holding his silver-white Lifebound Longsword in a reverse grip with one hand while secretly clutching the Six-winged Cyan Cicada in the palm of his other.

He stepped forward slowly, intending to investigate.

Just then, BANG!

Wei Qingyi’s supposedly dead body suddenly sprang up!

Startled, Qin Xuan immediately jumped back.

Wei Qingyi clutched his stomach and cackled, "Hahaha, tricked you! Did you really think I could be poisoned by something I prepared myself?"

After laughing for a good while, Wei Qingyi finally composed himself.

"Alright, Junior Brother Qin. I’ve completed the task that person entrusted to me, and the Merit Points have already been credited. Next is to help you finish the mission Master Chen gave me."

As soon as his voice fell, dark clouds suddenly gathered in the distant sky.

Thunder roared, transforming into a bluish-purple thunderous Cyan Dragon that writhed within the tribulation clouds with immense power.

A strange smile played on Wei Qingyi’s lips.

"I knew my guess was right."

"That old Daoist from Taiyi True View has been slaughtering mortals on a massive scale. It’s all to transcend his Purple Mansion Thunder Tribulation!"