บท 57: Killer Queen
Chapter 57 – Killer Queen
The refinement process looked simple, but it was still too difficult for Xu Miao.
First, Xu Miao filtered unusable substances from the ore by smelting them with his Yang Qi. Once the useless rocks and dirt had been removed, the remaining pieces of ores had to be merged.
Next, the merged ores had to be heated by a drop of Yang Essence or 1,000 strands of Yang Qi. The heated demonic ore would be liquidized, and it would automatically collect surrounding energy to enhance its demonic qi by itself.
Everything was similar to a common smelting technique. However, the refining issue came after that.
Once the demonic ore began collecting the surrounding energy, it would also consume the refiner's Qi. To save the refiner's life, a drop of a demon's blood was required. After dropping demon blood onto the rampaging demonic liquid, it would condense around the blood, slowly forming a ball-shaped crystal.
Then, after leaving the crystal alone for a night, it would gather Yin Qi and stabilized its energy.
The process was so easy and simple for demons, but Xu Miao couldn't do it. He lacked demon blood since he wasn't a demon.
"I'm sorry, your majesty. I don't have demon blood."
[Bullshit! You can digest my demon Qi, so you're definitely a demon!]
"But, I'm a human."
[HOO-MAN, my ass! I drank your blood, and I can confirm that you're a fucking demon! Just follow my instruction and complete the goddamn crystal, or I'll freaking slice you into sashimi!]
"Okay! Okay!"
Xu Miao processed the ores like how Killer Queen had instructed. When it reached the blood dropping part, the ghost sword stabbed his hand and sprayed several drops of blood on the smelted ore.
"Ow! Take it easy!"
[Shut it, HOO-MAN demon! Now, we wait and let the crystal do the work.]
"Is that it?"
The process was too easy to the point that Xu Miao questioned KQ's knowledge and her common sense. He thought the refining process was more profound and sophisticated.
[Yup! Oh, by the way, do you have more of those defected weapons?]
"Excuse me? Defected weapons?"
[Yeah. The one that you fed it to me, that big-ass crude saber.]
"…"
Xu Miao glanced at the broken magic dadao. It might be a low-grade weapon. But in the eyes of Killer Queen, it was a trashy defected weapon.
"Are these defected weapons, too?"
Xu Miao showed the remaining low-grade weapons, which he had obtained by defeating the 1st stage clones in the Isolation Chamber. He was hoping that one or two of them might be recognized as a good weapon.
[Yup! They're all trash! Now, give them to me. Let me eat all of their energy!]
"Hey! If you keep destroying my weapons, what am I going to use!"
[Stupid HOO-MAN! Do you think I drank your filthy blood because I desire your blood or something!?]
"Well, wasn't it?"
[Fuck no! I drank your blood, so you can use me! Take me out of this place with you! I'm tired of rotting here for centuries. Do you know how bored I am laying by myself in the darkness? I'm hungry! I'm bored! I want to fight! I want freedom! I want to shove my blade into someone's ass!]
"…"
Xu Miao almost laughed because of Killer Queen's childish attitude. Still, his novel experience told him that the ghost sword might be considered a heavenly artifact for local cultivators since it was kept hidden in here without anyone noticing its existence.
'If this world was a cultivation novel, the MC should have stumbled on this place before me and found her by an accident. Then…'
While Xu Miao was fantasizing what kind of plotline that MCs might encounter a sentient sword like Killer Queen during an adventure arc, the ceiling shook. Dirt and dust fell from above.
*RUMBLE*
[Meh, that stupid tree is probably at it again.]
"Stupid tree? Is it a giant blue Ent?"
Xu Miao referred to the tree that almost killed him. It was also the reason that he fell down to this unknown mine.
[Yeah, that's the one. It's a demon-eating tree that can shoot ice. That orcfucker is one of the raiders, and it almost killed my former master. That bastard always dug around the mine and took a few dead bodies for its fertilizer. I'm planning to stab that mofo and suck its Qi!]
There was a history between Killer Queen and the blue tree monster.
*BOOM*
As Xu Miao and Killer Queen was chatting and waiting for the refined crystal to stabilize, they heard the loud sound of landslide and earthquake. Somewhere in the mine, another portion of the ceiling collapsed.
Xu Miao and Killer Queen stopped chatting. He laid prone and placed his left ear on the ground, listening to the movement and the earthquake. Meanwhile, Killer Queen used her remaining Qi to sense the surroundings.
*Poek*
Something fell along with the landslide. Xu Miao heard the sound of something big falling on the ground.
The ghost katana also sensed another being in the mine.
[I sense another demon in the mine. I think it's an oni!]
"Oh?"
Xu Miao's face changed. If KQ could easily identify that there was another living demon here, Xu Miao might be in trouble. Yet, he recalled something.
'Wait a second. An oni? A demon? Is it her? She's a demon, but is she an oni?'
The face of Wei Yuan appeared in Xu Miao's mind.
[Hey, HOO-MAN, go and dig the place below my sheath. My ex-master buried her clan's assets there. Take it and bring me with you. We need to leave this place soon.]
"Why? Aren't all onis your friends?"
[True, but I sensed that asshole tree is digging through the ground above us. Just dig the ground and grab the treasures! We need to leave!]
Xu Miao gulped. If KQ was panicked, the tree might be absurdly strong.
"What's the tree's strength or cultivation level?"
[It doesn't matter! Just go dig and get the fuck outta here!]
"…"
Xu Miao stopped trying to squeeze more information out of the sentient katana. He dug the place where KQ had told him.
After digging down 30 centimeters, Xu Miao found a small steel box. He brought it out of the hole and shoved it into one of his available inventory slots. However, he took out all magic weapons and carried it outside.
*BOOM*
The earthquake got stronger. Cracks appeared on the ceiling, and dirt poured from the leaked parts.
[GO! GO! GO! WE DON'T HAVE TIME!]
"Where to!?"
[FOLLOW ME!]
KQ extended its dark aura, wrapping around several dead bodies with rainbow bones and the unfinished demonic crystal. Then, she took off, flying away from the dead-end tunnel.
Xu Miao carried the magic weapons that he couldn't deposit in the inventory in his arms. He dashed and followed Killer Queen.
*BOOM*
As if they were in a scene in a movie, the ceiling above the sealed pathway collapsed. Three giant roots pierced into the room, searching for dead bodies.
After the roots couldn't find anything to be used as fertilizer, more roots destroyed the mine tunnels, searching for any dead body. They found several corpses in front of the sealed passageway. Then, the tree stopped attacking. The blue ent's roots collected the corpses and pulled them into its main root.
…
Xu Miao and KQ managed to get away from the collapsed section and avoided the detection of the blue tree. However, they got further inside the mine, and they got lost.
"Your majesty, do you know the exit?"
[Huh? I thought you know the exit?]
"Err, I fell into this shithole by an accident. I thought you knew about the mine layout."
[I'm a fucking sword! Remembering a freaking useless map of this mine is none of my business! Now, gimme all those juicy weapons! I want to eat those!]
Xu Miao facepalmed. He didn't know if the encounter was beneficial for him or not, "If I give you my weapons, can you replace them if I need a weapon to use?"
[Of course, you stupid HOO-MAN! What am I, a talking decoration? I'm the KILLER QUEEN! I kill your enemies for you, and you keep feeding me crystals. Deal?]
KQ was assertive. Before Xu Miao could agree with her proposal, she already pushed him around and assumed that he would be her next master.
"Are you sure? I'm a weak hooman."
[I don't give a fudge! Just bring me out of this shithole, and I'll be your weapon, okay?]
"Ah, fine!" Xu Miao tossed his remaining low-grade weapons to KQ, "There. You can have them."
[Yay!]
Like a kid, KQ swung her blade at them and destroyed the magic weapons in one slash. However, their residual Qi and aura merged with the ghost katana, becoming one with her.
KQ burped as if she was full.
[Thanks for the meal. But heck, I still can't recover the strength that you stole from me. Hey, HOOMAN, take out the treasures in the box. I need to eat some of them.]
"Hey, my name is Xu Miao, not HOOMAN. Also, I'm not your servant. Stop ordering me around."
[Of course. You're not my servant. You're now my master. Isn't it the master's duty to feed your precious spirit weapon? Now, fetch me my ex-master's treasures, peasant!]
"…"
Xu Miao wanted to keep the so-called treasures inside the mysterious box to himself. Unfortunately, KQ exuded a threatening aura around herself, hinting him that she might kill him if he didn't cooperate.
Without a choice, Xu Miao brought out the box from his inventory. The system listed it as [Sealed Spatial Box].
Normally, spatial rings couldn't be stored inside the inventory. However, this box was an exception because of the seal.
Xu Miao tried to open the steel box, but he couldn't open it. There was no handle, hinge, or any indicator that it could be opened.
The sealed box was a seamless grey cube at the size of his palm, which could be seen as a cubic metal. If the system inventory didn't show its description, Xu Miao could have believed that it was a worthless metal.
"How do I open it?"
[I don't know.]
"…"
Xu Miao gave KQ an odd look. He doubted her abilities.
[What are you looking at?]
"Do you know anything else other than your ex-master's history or killing?"
[That's rude! I'm a fucking sword, so my expertise is sword and battles. Do you expect me to be an all-knowing sage? I'm not omnipotent!]
"Then, how do I get the so-called treasures inside the box for you?"
[I don't know. You figure!]
"…"
Xu Miao had a headache. He didn't know if encountering with this sword could be considered as a fortuitous encounter.
…
Xu Miao and his sword's voice were so loud that everything was audible inside the mine.
Inside the underground maze, a young maiden was also trapped in here. She closed her eyes and tried to pinpoint the direction of the voice.
Wei Yuan doubted her ears at first when she heard Xu Miao's voice, but she was certain when his voice kept coming.
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DamnPlotArmor
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บท 58: Encountering Wei Yuan Again
Chapter 58 – Encountering Wei Yuan Again
Wei Yuan was a pitiful demon. This entire exam went wrong ever since she got involved with Xu Miao.
Her real identity as an oni had been found. Though she managed to get away from Xu Miao, she was trapped in the golden beacon array with four other cultivators.
The four girls ended up taking out the knives from the reward boxes and tried to kill each other, including Wei Yuan. Fortunately, she managed to get out of the array after one of them had been stabbed to death.
Her streak of bad luck didn't end. Because she decided to follow the trail of burnt trees, she ran into the blue ents.
Then, she fell into a hole and almost got buried alive. Fortunately, she found an underground cave and decided to seek shelter inside.
The exit or entrance hole was, of course, destroyed by a landslide. The blue tree monster used its roots to dig the soil and cover it, trying to ferment its victim to become its fertilizer.
'I heard from grandfather that blue ents betrayed our clans and drove us back to the human world. So, did this monster realm used to be our sanctuary?'
Wei Yuan didn't stop analyzing the realm even though she was not in a good spot. Despite the streak of bad luck, she was calm and level-headed. She didn't give up trying to survive in this cruel world since she had seen worse.
As Wei Yuan was exploring the abandoned mine, she heard loud noises.
"Your majesty, do you know the exit?"
[Huh? I thought you know the exit?]
"Err, I fell into this shithole by an accident. I thought you knew about the mine layout."
[I'm a fucking sword! Remembering a freaking useless map of this mine is none of my business! Now, gimme all those juicy weapons! I want to eat that!]
They were the voice of Xu Miao and an unknown child. The noise echoed in the tunnels, which made it hard to pinpoint where it came from.
Wei Yuan wanted to shout and request for help. But when she recalled Xu Miao's unfriendly attitude, she changed her mind.
'I shouldn't get involved with him anymore. I should search for an exit on my own first. If push comes to shove, I'll throw away my ego and ask for help.'
Wei Yuan didn't need to summon fireballs to illuminate the way since her eyes could see everything in the darkness. Her red eyes glowed in the dark as if she was a predator beast.
Wei Yuan found several dead bodies in the mine, but she wasn't afraid. After identifying the age of these corpses, she was relieved.
'These monsters might be the betrayers that drove our clan out of this land. Did they fight against the stragglers here?'
As Wei Yuan searched for an exit, she also took a rusty pickaxe, using it as her primary weapon. She prepared herself in the case that there might be other monsters or demons inside the mine.
After walking further inside the abandoned mine, Wei Yuan found a giant hall and ten more tunnels. One of them led to the upper floor while the rest of them led to unknown places.
Without hesitation, she tried to climb the stairs to the upper floor. It was logical to get back to the surface by moving upward.
But as she walked up, the ceiling trembled.
*BOOM*
A tree root suddenly penetrated the ceiling and grabbed another corpse of a dead monster. When the root shrunk back, rocks and brown soil fell from the leaking ceiling, blocking the passage upward.
Wei Yuan gazed at the tree root in shock.
'That blue ent is eating the corpses here, so this might be its feeding ground. I must have fallen into one of its farms.'
Realizing the danger of this place, Wei Yuan made up her mind. Instead of trying to getting back on the surface, she looked for a path to get further down.
After all, all cultivators would be teleported back in 2 days. Wei Yuan was still carrying her food and water supplies that she had obtained from the beacon, so she was confident that she could make it.
Wei Yuan turned around and picked another random passage.
As she was about to leave the hall, a miniature fireball illuminated the light in one of the tunnel, and the fireball was coming her way.
"!!!"
Wei Yuan hid in a corner. She activated a body strengthening technique and prepared to fight if necessary.
*Tok* *Tok*
Footsteps got closer. More mini fireballs arrived at the hall, and the owner of these light appeared.
Xu Miao was walking alongside a floating katana. They were looking around for an exit as well.
"This place is larger than the previous shithole. Let's camp here."
[I think there should be a passage to an exit from here… Ah, crap. That shitty tree has destroyed it.]
"It's fine. I'll be teleported out of here in 2 days."
[Hey! Take me with you!]
"I know. Just, let me touch you when it happens."
[You make it sound pervert. Do you want me to castrate you!?]
"I used the wrong words! I mean, I need to hold your handle, so I can bring you with me!"
[…]
Xu Miao and the mysterious talking sword seemed to be on friendly terms. They chatted and messed with each other like children.
Wei Yuan observed how the two interacted. Yet, she kept hiding behind a line of ore craters, peeking them from the gaps.
"…"
Suddenly, Xu Miao and KQ stopped talking. Both of them disappeared from her sight.
Wei Yuan frowned and tried to look for them. As she was about to raise her head to peek over the craters, the ghost sword already pointed its tip at her face while Xu Miao was holding the handle.
[What are you doing here, little oni!?]
"Oh, it's you."
Xu Miao and Killer Queen found her.
.
.
.
Xu Miao, Wei Yuan, and KQ made a make-shift fireless camp at the center of the hall.
The sentient katana and Xu Miao stared at Wei Yuan as they were listening to her story.
"So, that gold beacon is a trap to lure cultivators in there. Then, they forced you to kill each other to earn your freedom?" Xu Miao summarized Wei Yuan's story.
Wei Yuan confessed, "Yes. When we sat there and cultivated, we obtained both Yin and Yang Qi from the light, and our score increased over time. There were prepared food and water for us in there, but no one could get out unless one of us died. Well, we ended up killing one of our friends."
"That's stupid. You could have stayed there for 3 days and enjoy the freebie. Why did you kill your friend anyway?"
"I didn't have a choice. One of them suddenly attacked the others and tried to steal our supplies. We had to defend ourselves."
"Then, you ran into that monster tree…"
"… Yes. I was heading to another beacon, but that tree was on the way."
Wei Yuan couldn't stop glancing at the floating sword, which released dark strings that had been absorbing dark Qi from rainbow bones.
Xu Miao could see Wei Yuan's concern. He introduced KQ to her, "This is Killer Queen, a sentient sacred weapon of your old clan."
"I-I know her. The legend said that she was a guardian of our oni clan, but she was destroyed during the demon uprising incident."
Wei Yuan was already nervous when she was alone with Xu Miao. When she heard that the lost guardian was with him, she got intimidated.
[Hey, little oni!]
"Y-Yes?"
KQ didn't care about Wei Yuan. Her attention was on the box that her ex-master had sealed.
[Do you know how to open this sealed box? Hey, HOOMAN! Give it to her!]
Xu Miao tossed the hand-sized grey cube to Wei Yuan, "Your clan's guardian said that it contains several treasures inside. If you can open it, we'll share some of them with you."
[Hey! All treasures are mine!]
"If we can't open this shit, none of us can use them. Give her some commissions, or we'll get nothing in return!"
[Meh, fine! I'll give each of you one piece! As for the rest of them, they're my food, okay?]
"Deal!"
As Xu Miao understood the difference in strength between KQ and himself, he didn't hesitate to accept a disadvantageous deal. Surviving took priority over trying to gain benefits.
KQ was happy with Xu Miao's flexible attitude. She forgave him for the earlier quarrel.
On the other hand, Wei Yuan was confused. She wondered what kind of relationship her clan's ex-sacred treasure and Xu Miao had.
Still, Wei Yuan recognized the grey cube.
"Ah, this is just a simple spatial box of our clan. We can open it by dropping our blood and used our clan's finger technique."
"Finger technique?" Xu Miao was curious. His pupils sparkled.
"No puns intended! It's a Qi technique!"
"Oh," Xu Miao was disappointed.
Wei Yuan gathered her demonic Qi in her right index finger. She bit the tip of it and dropped her blood on the cube box.
When the blood dripped on the cube, it glowed in golden light and revealed a circular symbol.
Wei Yuan put the bloody finger on the symbol and activated her oni skill.
Pearl Cleansing Finger!
Fortunately, Xu Miao didn't know the name of this technique, or his brain might guide him to the wrong path.
Her fingertip shone in silver light. The grey cube turned white, and it splitted into two. As soon as the cube was unsealed, a hundred shining items burst out of the box like a fountain. Spears, swords, bows, armors, rings, helmets, clothes, refined demonic stones, and manuals filled the hall.
Seeing that the seal was unlocked, Killer Queen laughed.
[You two! Take one item of your choice! I'll let you pick your thing first, and I'll consume the rest of them later!]
Wei Yuan bowed toward the talking katana and looked around. When she noticed a shining green robe, her eyes widened in shock.
"I-I-I'll take that one!"
The oni girl rushed to the robe and picked it.
[Your turn, stupid hooman!]
"…"
Xu Miao rolled his eyes and shrugged. Since he would be using KQ as his personal weapon, he looked for artifacts, trinkets, and armors.
Then, his eyes stopped at a certain item.
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DamnPlotArmor
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