I Have an Omen System-Chapter 43 - 42: Gold-devouring Bone Ants

Qin Xuan’s leisurely days in the Demon Sect didn’t last long.

On this day, all twenty-three of the Demon Disciples under his command advanced to the Qi Cultivation Second Layer. There was even a standout named Huang Xu, who broke through to the Qi Cultivation Third Layer!

Qin Xuan led them into the Ten Thousand Poison Swamp.

"Excellent. You’ve done very well."

The Plague Gu Daoist smiled, satisfied.

Of the five Stewards who had joined the Plague Bone Altar, Qin Xuan was the first to deliver his Demon Disciples. This showed he had taken the Daoist’s words to heart. ’This is the kind of subordinate I need!’

"Master Wen Xiang, there’s also this. I haven’t dared to forget your instructions for a single day. I’m just not sure if it meets your requirements..."

After delivering the Demon Disciples, Qin Xuan lowered his gaze, took out a huge earthenware jar wrapped in gray cloth, and handed it to the Plague Gu Daoist.

The Plague Gu Daoist opened it and saw that it was filled with a staggering twenty jin of Spirit Bone Marrow!

"Excellent, excellent! Qin Xuan, you’ve done exceptionally well!" Seeing the Spirit Bone Marrow, a sharp glint flashed in the Plague Gu Daoist’s murky eyes. He grinned from ear to ear, the wrinkles on his face smoothing out.

"You have worked hard. Inside this Storage Ring is a reward I prepared especially for you. I had intended to give it to you in a few days, but since you’ve been so diligent, it’s only right to reward you now."

"Thank you for the reward, Master Wen Xiang."

Qin Xuan’s face lit up with joy. He bowed deeply and slowly backed away from the Ten Thousand Poison Floating Island.

Just as Qin Xuan was leaving, he faintly heard the Plague Gu Daoist’s aged voice drifting out from within.

"The Plague Bone Altar has three great legacy Cultivation Techniques: the Hundred Corpses Poison Evil Skill, the Ten Thousand Poison Heart Rot Technique, and the Gold-devouring Bone Ant Devouring Skill. They are all based on Gu Poison Spirit Insects. If any of you lack Contribution Points, you don’t need to take out a loan. Simply swallow this Spirit Insect, and you can begin to cultivate..."

Qin Xuan only had to hear a few words to understand the Plague Gu Daoist’s scheme.

’The Demon Sect really is dangerous at every turn!’

’There’s definitely something fishy about those Spirit Insects. It’s an old tradition in the Holy Sect.’

’It seems the methods for controlling Demon Disciples differ between Magic Altars.’

’The Ten Thousand Laws Altar uses loans, the Plague Bone Altar uses Gu Insects. I wonder what methods Hou Qi’s True Body Altar and Xie Qing’s Skull Altar use?’

’Haven’t heard from that kid Hou Qi in a while. He couldn’t have been killed already, could he...?’

’Oh well, what’s it got to do with me anyway.’

Qin Xuan then turned his attention to the Storage Ring, examining it gleefully.

It was jet-black all over. When he probed it with his Divine Sense, he found a storage space inside, about one zhang square.

Aside from two small wooden boxes, it was completely empty.

This was the first time Qin Xuan had ever handled such a Magical Artifact. He had only ever read about them in fantasy novels before, but now he was actually holding one. The novelty of it was thrilling.

He took out the Pill Jade Bottle containing the Corpse Centipede Pills from his robes. One moment the bottle would disappear, the next it would reappear in his hand. He had a blast playing with it.

By all rights, a Qi Cultivation Cultivator of Qin Xuan’s level should have been issued a Storage Pouch by the Sect, even if he didn’t receive a Storage Ring.

Unfortunately, this was the Demon Sect.

Only Inner Sect Disciples were qualified to possess such Magical Artifacts. An Outer Sect Steward like Qin Xuan had two options for acquiring one: either kill someone and take theirs, or exchange Contribution Points for it.

In the Outer Sect, this Storage Ring alone was something that had a price but no market—it was impossible to find one for sale.

It would cost several thousand Contribution Points at a bare minimum.

’I almost forgot. Qi Cultivation Demon Cultivators in the Holy Sect’s Outer Sect aren’t even treated like people...’

When he probed the Storage Ring with his Divine Sense, the contents nearly blinded him.

One of the wooden boxes was densely packed with Bone-transforming Corpse Beetle Eggs—several thousand of them, at least.

The other wooden box contained five sparkling Deep Blue Jades and a golden-yellow skull!

Qin Xuan recognized them at once. Those Deep Blue Jades were the same kind of precious Spirit Stones that Li Cang had used back then to bribe the Inspection Envoy from the Punishment Hall.

As for the golden skull, the moment Qin Xuan took it in his hand, a sudden insight came to him.

[Golden Bone Shadow Soldier (Incomplete): Refined from the skull of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator who practiced a Gold Attribute Technique. Can be used to nourish Sword Qi. Can also be disassembled and attached to a Bone Shadow Soldier for a formidable defense, as tough as metal and stone!]

’This must be the Seventh-Grade Opportunity mentioned in the Divination!’

’Master Wen Xiang really is generous.’

’But now I understand. Back when Wang Jian handed us over to Zheng Qi, he most likely received plenty of benefits just like this!’

’In the Demon Sect, it really pays to be in cahoots with others!’

...

They didn’t have to wait long, not like with Zheng Qi. Huang Xu and the others soon emerged, looking refreshed and invigorated.

Qin Xuan noticed their complexions were ruddy and they seemed to be in a state of unnatural excitement. Sweeping them with his Divine Sense, he immediately discovered something was amiss.

Clinging to the back of each of their skulls was a soybean-sized, five-colored poisonous spider!

"Greetings, Steward Qin," the Demon Disciples all said, bowing.

Huang Xu even took the initiative to report, "Steward Qin, the Cultivation Technique I chose is the Gold-devouring Bone Ant Devouring Skill."

"Mm. Go back and cultivate diligently. Don’t squander the Incense Master’s goodwill."

Qin Xuan gave him a casual glance, and Huang Xu immediately lowered his head guiltily, as if he had something to hide.

...

Ever since obtaining the Golden Bone, Qin Xuan found that cultivating the Netherworld White Bone Yin Talisman was becoming increasingly effortless.

On this day, Qin Xuan sat cross-legged in his Cave Mansion, his eyes shut tight. Mist and vapor swirled above his head as plumes of black energy pulsed from his body.

In his palm rested a deep blue Spirit Stone, shrouded in a halo of Spiritual Qi.

An unknown amount of time passed.

BOOM!

Suddenly, it felt as though some kind of barrier had been broken.

Qin Xuan’s eyes snapped open.

Breakthrough to the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer!

Within his Dantian, a dense Spiritual Mist swirled around three magnificent and exquisite Heaven and Earth Rainbow Bridges, looking as if they had been formed by nature itself.

Qin Xuan examined his own condition, growing more and more satisfied.

’My strength to protect myself has increased yet again. How could I not be satisfied?’

’I wonder if Wang Jian has broken through to Foundation Establishment yet. If not, then we’re now Cultivators of the same level!’

Just as Qin Xuan was stabilizing his new Cultivation while pondering how to find Wang Jian, Liuu Yi suddenly ran over, panting for breath.

"Junior Brother Qin, you’re finally out of seclusion! The Incense Master has assigned us a new mission and is waiting for us now!"

Qin Xuan calmly concluded his practice, taking a moment to conceal his recent breakthrough. Only then did he dismiss the guardians at his door: one Copper Bone Shadow Soldier, three Bone Shadow Soldiers, and six Arrays.

He slowly opened the gate to his Cave Mansion.

"Junior Brother Qin, your defenses are really comprehensive."

Qin Xuan laughed. "Senior Brother Liuu, what mission has the Sect given us this time?"

"Sigh... you could say it’s good news and bad news."

Liuu Yi sighed. "Master Blood Tyrant Demon Child is preparing to attack the Blazing Fire Sect, a sect without a Purple Mansion Daoist to guard it. We’re to act as the vanguard and scout the path for the Master Demon Child!"

Qin Xuan was dumbfounded.

???

’I just reached the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer, and they want me to act as a vanguard to attack the Blazing Fire Sect?’

’The Blood Tyrant Demon Child Liuu Yi mentioned must be Chen Xuanba, the one who inherited the legacy of the Blood Tyrant Sword Demon... Getting revenge on the Blazing Fire Sect, that definitely fits Chen Xuanba’s rash and arrogant personality.’

’But why do we have to be the scouts??’

’If I’m understanding this correctly, how is that any different from being cannon fodder?’

"Junior Brother Qin, actually... it’s not like we can’t get out of this mission."

Liuu Yi leaned in and whispered, "I have a connection. We can use Contribution Points to bribe the relevant Elder to have our names replaced."

"Senior Brother Liuu, you have that kind of connection?" Qin Xuan asked.

"Heh heh, you don’t need to worry about that, Junior Brother Qin," Liuu Yi said. "I heard there’s a decent mission patrolling the sect gate. It gives the same number of Contribution Points. Want to try for that one?"

Qin Xuan was tempted by the offer.

Having spent some time with him, Qin Xuan had a decent understanding of Liuu Yi. The guy was a bit sleazy, mercenary, and shrewd, but he had an unparalleled expertise when it came to saving his own skin.

Plus, as fellow Stewards of the Plague Bone Altar, the two of them had "cooperated" (i.e., acted in cahoots) to help many new Demon Disciples purify the tainted qi in their bodies. They had something of a friendly relationship.

Just as Qin Xuan was about to agree, the giant ball of light in his mind suddenly flickered. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Three bamboo slips flew out from it.

[Top-Top Lottery: Go to the Blazing Fire Sect and annihilate its remnants. Invade the Sect treasury to obtain a Sixth-Grade Opportunity with growth potential, accompanied by a Heaven Dao Foundation Establishment method. Safe and harmless. Greatly auspicious.]

[Middle-Lower Draw: Return to your Cave Mansion and cultivate as usual. You will be caught in the aftershock of a Righteous Dao counterattack. Life will hang by a thread. Inauspicious.]

[The Worst Draw: Return to your Cave Mansion and choose the mountain gate patrol mission. You will be ambushed and killed in a trap set by the Righteous Dao. You will die without a grave. Greatly inauspicious!]