The following day, the black thorny forest.
The sun was shining brightly elsewhere outside, sprinkling the mountains with a layer of golden sheen. The brightness stopped abruptly at the edge of this forest, as if being swallowed by a bottomless pit. With the diminished light, the thick woods looked gloomy and the air was filled with a faint stench.
In a clearing in the woods, Long Qiu set down a three-legged bronze cauldron, then sat down in a cross-legged position. The cauldron was custom made—genuine brass and quite pricey.
Gu Yu and Xiaozhai stood behind Long Qiu and watched her with curiosity. After all, it was their very first time to ever witness the refinement of an undead insect.
Long Qiu took out a handful of green powder, threw it into the cauldron, and started heating it over the fire. Before long, a strange and pungent smell wafted up from the cauldron.
