"What, the Ghost Locust has fallen?"
The crowd behind heard the news and was stunned.
The brothers, Qin Feng and Qin Yang, exchanged glances, their expressions changing slightly.
Others might not know, but the disciples of these cultivator families were well aware of the Ghost Locust.
The enormous Ghost Locust had been cultivated by the three families of Kun City for six to seven hundred years. It was specifically used to guard the Chaotic Burial Mound, to prevent the emergence of powerful Ghost Items that could harm the populace.
Since the two of them were at the back of the team, they hadn't seen the state of the Ghost Locust with their own eyes. They didn't know if the Ghost Locust had become sentient and left its encampment, or if some powerful demon monster had arrived.
Qin Yang said solemnly, "Be on guard and beware of ambushes."
The soldiers obeyed the command, instantly gathering together to form a combat formation. Long swords were drawn, long spears stood upright, and crossbows were loaded. Their eyes warily scanned the surroundings.
They often followed Qin Long in hunting down bandits and chasing after villains. They had even participated in slaying demon beasts before. Thus, they were very experienced in combat. After hearing Qin Yang's command, they immediately entered combat mode.
Qin Yang's eyes flickered with spirit light as he performed a few detection spells but found no demon beasts.
Only then did he cautiously walk to the front of the team and approach the Ghost Locust. After a closer look, he instantly discovered the reason the Ghost Locust was blocking their path.
It wasn't that the Ghost Locust had a death wish, ignoring the ban of the three cultivator families of Kun City. Nor was it that some powerful demon monster had pushed it down.
The reason the Ghost Locust was lying on the ground blocking their path was that this six-hundred-year-old tree had been cut down at the roots.
Qin Yang examined the smooth, neat cut at the tree's roots, reaching out to touch it. He suddenly felt a sting in his palm.
It was the Sword Qi left at the cut!
Qin Yang breathed a sigh of relief. "No problem. This Ghost Locust was cut down by Lord Li Tianchou."
The soldiers of the Inspection Department also relaxed upon hearing this. As long as it wasn't the work of a demon beast, that was good.
Everyone gathered around the Ghost Locust, feeling amazed.
However, Team Leader Zhao Meng and other team leaders who knew the true purpose of the Ghost Locust whispered to Qin Yang, "Why did Lord Li cut down this Ghost Locust? Without it, Ghost Items might emerge from the Chaotic Burial Mound and cause trouble in the future!"
"Perhaps Lord Li accidentally cut it down while fighting that Evil Cultivator, or maybe he noticed something unusual about the Ghost Locust after killing the Evil Cultivator and then cut it down in one stroke."
Qin Yang speculated on two possibilities and then said, "I will report this matter to the family head. Don't worry about the Ghost Items. At most, each family will send people to sweep through the area briefly. Anyway, no extremely powerful Ghost Items have ever emerged from this Chaotic Burial Mound.
As for the future, we can cultivate another Spiritual Tree to deter Ghost Items. Otherwise, there's no way to assign cultivators here permanently. No cultivator from the three families would be willing to live here."
The team leaders, being martial artists, had limited knowledge of the methods of cultivators. They couldn't intervene in such matters. Since Qin Yang said he would report it to the family head, they believed the cultivator families would handle it.
Meanwhile, Qin Feng, like the other soldiers, curiously observed the Ghost Locust, spending extra time looking at the hollow tree heart.
The tree was so tall that even lying on the ground, it was as high as an ordinary house.
Feeling reflective, he patted the tree trunk, then suddenly felt a tremor in his mind.
It wasn't from the Ghost Locust. Although the Ghost Locust had developed spiritual intelligence before being cut down, it was just an ordinary Tree Demon. Besides attracting Ghost Items into its hole to devour, it had no other significant abilities.
Even if it did, it wouldn't dare use them against humans. Otherwise, it would have been killed by the cultivators of Kun City long ago.
The obscure tremor was transmitted from the Ancient Bronze Pot in his storage bag.
The Copper Pot wasn't a life form. It couldn't fully express its meaning, only conveying a vague intent, but Qin Feng understood that it wanted to eat the Ghost Locust, or rather, devour it.
This startled Qin Feng.
It seemed he indeed had found a treasure.
A treasure capable of transmitting intent was no ordinary item. Ordinary Magical Treasures couldn't do it. At least, they had to be Spiritual Treasures with spiritual nature.
For ordinary cultivators at the Qi Refinement Realm, magic artifacts were the main weapon of choice. Cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Stage could use Spiritual Artifacts.
But whether it was magic artifacts or spiritual artifacts, they were only simplified prototypes of Magical Treasures.
Only after forming the Golden Core did a cultivator have the energy and ability to refine and use a Magical Treasure.
As for Spiritual Treasures with spiritual nature, which could protect themselves automatically, they had to be refined by cultivators at the Nascent Soul Stage or higher.
With this discovery, Qin Feng felt both excited and worried.
If someone discovered the level of this Copper Pot, it would definitely lead to killing and treasure seizing. In the worst case, they might even annihilate his entire Qin Family for the sake of leaving no witnesses.
Qin Feng thought it would be best to discuss this with his father when he returned. If things didn't work out, he would offer this Spiritual Treasure to the sect after he joined. It should earn him considerable benefits.
However, was he really willing to do so?
There was no need to think much; he knew he definitely wasn't willing.
Whoever got hold of such a treasure would be reluctant to give it up easily.
Qin Feng hesitated for a moment.
However, he had more immediate concerns. Letting the Copper Pot devour the Ghost Locust in front of so many people wasn't feasible. Otherwise, word would spread.
But he wanted to try.
He wanted to see what reaction the Ancient Bronze Pot would have after devouring the Ghost Locust.
How could he avoid all these people, though?
Just as he was pondering, Qin Yang had already gathered everyone to leave quickly.
They were still on the outskirts of Qifeng Mountain, near the Chaotic Burial Mound. It was best not to linger.
The group resumed their journey, but after a few steps, Qin Feng stopped.
"What is it?"
Qin Yang asked from the side.
"I need to relieve myself."
Qin Feng said as he stepped behind a tree.
"Don't go into the woods. Just stay by the roadside. It's late at night; no one will see you."
Qin Yang joked, "Besides, you haven't fully grown yet. Why be shy?"
"I'm not afraid of being seen, just worried you'll be jealous."
Qin Feng retorted.
The team leaders around Qin Yang burst into laughter.
"You brat, jealous of you?"
Qin Yang nearly blew his nose in anger.
But he could only swallow his frustration. He couldn't possibly take it out and compare sizes with his cousin here. They weren't kids anymore, doing such childish things.
Even if they did, who would they find to be the judge?
Glancing at the burly Zhao Meng, Qin Yang shivered and quickly dismissed the thought.
Qin Feng walked a few more steps to the front of the Ghost Locust.
The Ghost Locust was huge, with dense branches and leaves, covering a large area as it lay on the ground.
He turned back and saw no one was watching. He quickly took out the Ancient Bronze Pot and inserted a section of the Ghost Locust branch into the pot.
Qin Feng, given his low cultivation, couldn't lift the entire Ghost Locust. He also didn't know how the pot planned to devour it, so he could only try this way.
As soon as he inserted the Ghost Locust branch, the Ancient Bronze Pot trembled slightly, and a massive suction force emerged, pulling the entire Ghost Locust into the pot.
Qin Feng curiously looked at the pot's opening, puzzled about how such a large Ghost Locust fit inside.
Suddenly, the Copper Pot flew out of his hand and headed toward his forehead.
With a booming sound, the Copper Pot entered Qin Feng's Sea of Consciousness, hovering steadily in the center.
"What..."
Qin Feng was stunned.
What was happening?
How did the Copper Pot enter his Sea of Consciousness?
Before he could react, pure spiritual power surged from the Copper Pot, flowing through his brow and circulating throughout his body.
Qin Feng quickly ran his cultivation technique, refining this spiritual power and sending it into his dantian.
The spiritual power, though not much, was extremely pure. With just a few circulations, he could turn it into his own spiritual power.
After he fully absorbed the spiritual power, he noticed his cultivation had reached the peak of the first layer of the Qi Refinement Realm, ready to break through to the second layer at any moment.