Chapter 42: The Wolfsbane Flower

On the summit of Ram Horn Mountain, Mouse Tianjiao chattered away about something, its spies scattered all around the vicinity. Jiang Chen merely smiled at this, paying it little heed. It was perfectly natural for strangers to keep something back; trusting others completely was the true folly.

“These three handfuls of spirit sand are likely the real value of the Wolf King’s pelt. The charm technique is more a purchase of the merit represented by the pelt, but the truly precious thing is this jade token, which marks Lu Xuanping’s identity as a direct descendant of the Lu family.”

He opened the pouch and took out a piece of white jade. Jiang Chen understood Lu Xuanping’s intent. The man had deliberately left this token, expressing a wish to continue their acquaintance.

With this token as a bridge, Jiang Chen could seek Lu Xuanping next time with a clear purpose. Relationships are forged through repeated exchanges; the more frequent the contact, the closer the bond becomes. That prior transaction, on the surface, was the sale of the Wolf King’s pelt, but in truth it was the sale of the credit for slaying the Wolf King and clearing out the wolf’s den.

After only a brief inspection, Jiang Chen put away the white jade token. In this world, as long as one lives, one cannot escape the web of relations; before possessing absolute power, connections are useful. Yet their reliability depends on oneself—if you are strong and valuable, your network will naturally be solid.

“Lu Xuanping never stated it outright, but from his hints, it seems the Demon-Slaying Bureau has dispatched many agents this time. It appears Five Immortal Mountain is indeed in turmoil.”

With that thought, Jiang Chen beckoned gently toward the Wolf King’s corpse. If he delayed further, its spirit would truly scatter.

A hum—soul light flared, information coursed through Jiang Chen’s mind like a lantern carousel. Compared to an ordinary Hellhorn Wolf, the Wolf King’s intelligence was much higher, and thus the information it left behind was much clearer.

“Civil war in Five Immortal Mountain; the five leading monster clans are locked in combat, and countless lesser creatures have been affected. Many monsters have chosen to flee.”

Capturing this crucial detail, Jiang Chen’s lingering doubts quietly dissolved.

“In Five Immortal Mountain, the Five Immortal Monster Clans reign. Compared to them, the Hellwolf Clan is but a minor tribe; for this reason, not even the Wolf King knows what is actually happening within the mountain.”

As the Wolf King’s soul faded, Jiang Chen frowned at the chaos brewing within Five Immortal Mountain, but soon composed himself.

“For now, Five Immortal Mountain has little to do with me. No need to overthink it. This harvest, on the other hand, is considerable.”

A thought arose, and Jiang Chen strode toward a hidden cavern on Ram Horn Mountain—the Hellwolf Clan’s sanctuary for spirit treasures.

“Wolfbane Vine…”

Entering the cave, he gazed at the crimson vine rooted in a corpse, its tendrils spreading outward. This was the Hellwolf Clan’s most vital legacy, the Wolfbane Vine.

Its body was a deep red, the vines thick as a child’s arm, bristling with sharp backward-facing barbs. The leaves were emerald, edged like saw teeth and razor-sharp, easily slicing flesh and brimming with venom. Once affected, a creature would endure excruciating pain.

“This Wolfbane Vine is a genuine menace. Most would steer clear, but it has many uses.”

“Its sap, though highly toxic, can stimulate bloodlines to a certain degree. This is how the Hellwolf Clan has sustained its lineage, giving rise to Hellhorn Wolves at intervals. Of course, many wolves perish from the venom as well.”

“Moreover, when the Wolfbane Vine matures, it blooms. The Wolfbane Flower can swiftly enhance a creature’s affinity with spiritual energy, granting a chance to cultivate.”

Jiang Chen’s mind swirled with the vine’s myriad uses, his gaze settling on the main stem’s tip, where a bud was about to blossom—the Wolfbane Flower.

“The Wolfbane Flower needs copious flesh and blood to bloom. This was one reason the Wolf King ordered the wolves to hunt so fiercely, even considering sacrificing ordinary wolves; for once the flower opened, he could attempt to break through to spiritual cultivation.”

Jiang Chen acknowledged the Wolf King’s ruthless determination, though luck had not been on its side.

Just then, Mouse Tianjiao entered the cave with its host, following Jiang Chen’s command. They tossed wolf corpses into the pit where the Wolfbane Vine was rooted.

“Let me finish what the Wolf King started.”

Watching as the corpses filled the pit and the vine greedily absorbed their essence, Jiang Chen’s expression remained indifferent. In a sense, he was helping the Wolf King fulfil its obsession; having read its memories, he knew how desperately the Wolf King yearned for the Wolfbane Flower.

The previous Wolf King of the Hellwolf Clan had advanced to spiritual cultivation by consuming the flower, marking the clan’s golden era. Yet the successors proved unworthy, and the clan fell again. With awakened intelligence, the current Wolf King had been determined to revive the clan.

Thus, ten days slipped by. In that time, besides refining the Wolf King’s corpse into a Blood Condensation Stone, Jiang Chen fed all other wolf corpses to the Wolfbane Vine. Now, only twenty wolf pups remained, along with a single Hellhorn Wolf.

That Hellhorn Wolf had once battled Mouse Tianjiao and lost; Jiang Chen kept it alive for its potential value.

As all the corpses’ energy was drained, the flower bud was finally stained red and blossomed.

In that moment, a potent fragrance surged through the cave, intoxicating all the mice within, driving them nearly mad as they rushed toward the Wolfbane Vine.

Jiang Chen watched this scene, quietly sensing the transformation, and did not immediately intervene. Only Mouse Tianjiao, who stayed by his side, received a kick from him.

In the next instant, the vine erupted in violence. All the mice lured by the flower’s scent and drawn to the pit were slaughtered, becoming fertilizer for its growth.

Mouse Tianjiao, regaining its senses and seeing the carnage, shivered in fright.

“Chitter-chitter-chit, master truly prefers it…”

Grateful, Mouse Tianjiao crept closer to Jiang Chen.

Witnessing the massacre, Jiang Chen was not alarmed but pleased.

“The Wolf King’s memories were hazy; before, I could only guess. Now I can confirm the Wolfbane Flower possesses hallucinogenic properties—not superficial, but able to affect the mind itself.”

With his suspicion confirmed, Jiang Chen was delighted. This was his first encounter with a treasure capable of touching the spirit and soul.

“Perhaps this will help my soul recover more swiftly.”

With this thought, Jiang Chen’s regard for the Wolfbane Vine soared.