Chapter 22: Is My Host a Villain?

“System, where is the Huan Li?”

Ning Shengsheng snuck out while Xue Chen was cultivating.

【It’s right on the mountainside. The Huan Li is still a spirit beast egg, and it’s guarded by demonic beasts.】

【Good luck.】

“How many, and what kind of demonic beasts are they?”

【Apologies, Host. The demonic beasts guarding the Huan Li egg are randomly generated. I don’t know either.】

No wonder the risk factor was high. Ning Shengsheng was momentarily speechless.

The system added, “I can provide some useful information. There are only two possibilities for the demonic beasts around the Huan Li. The first is five seventh-rank beasts, equivalent to early-stage human Profound Aperture cultivators. The second is one hundred fourth-rank beasts, equivalent to early-stage human Void Aperture cultivators.”

???

She asked with perfect composure, “Then may I ask, my dear system, what is your host’s cultivation level?”

【Cough, n-none…】

“Wow, what a great answer. So, you’re saying I, with no cultivation, am supposed to steal a spirit beast egg guarded by either five seventh-rank beasts or one hundred fourth-rank beasts.”

“Is that it, my dear system?!”

The system felt its host had gone mad. It tried to comfort her.

【Maybe… maybe we shouldn’t do it?】

“Do it! Why not? We’re snatching food from the tiger’s mouth! We’re seeking wealth in danger!” The higher the risk, the more powerful the spirit beast. Her brother had given her so many magical artifacts. Worst case scenario, she could just run.

As Ning Shengsheng headed towards the mountainside, she sorted through the magical artifacts in her storage pouch that might be useful.

“Smack!”

She slapped a Fleet-Foot Talisman onto her leg and popped a Turtle’s Breath Pearl, which concealed her presence, into her mouth.

【Beep beep, less than 100 meters to the target.】

The system reported.

Ning Shengsheng bent down and hid in the bushes. As if by magic, she pulled out a thin black tube—another gift from her emperor brother. Its function was similar to a modern-day telescope.

“Let me see where the spirit beast egg is… where is it… huh? Could that be it?”

She focused her gaze and her hair stood on end. The sight was not a pleasant one.

Fifty meters away, a dense swarm of insects lay sprawled out. The insects were huge, with hard carapaces.

The system was about to cry: 【Host, congratulations, you’ve hit the jackpot. You’ve encountered the most troublesome scenario: a hundred Corrupting Winged Spiders.】

“Elaborate.”

【Corrupting Winged Spiders are fourth-rank demonic beasts. They are social creatures, and no single spider ever acts alone. They are extremely difficult to kill. After being killed, their rotten flesh regenerates. They can only be burned, but… they have wings on their backs. If you attack with fire, they will fly away.】

Can’t be killed, can’t be burned? What else could she do?

The system thought Ning Shengsheng would be anxious and was about to advise her to give up. But unexpectedly, the young girl’s eyes were shining, and she even seemed a little excited. “It’s okay. We’ll stake them out here for a night and observe their habits.”

“What if we get a chance?”

The system paused. “Okay, Host.”

Even if Ning Shengsheng wasn’t a pampered princess, in that small world, she had lived a comfortable and easy life. The system was once again won over by Ning Shengsheng’s charisma, and even felt a slight sense of admiration.

The sun sank behind the mountains, and night slowly fell, revealing the stars in the sky. The mountains were full of mosquitoes, rats, and ants. Ning Shengsheng’s calves were covered in bites. She swatted a mosquito that was greedily sucking blood from her neck. Her stomach rumbled.

System: 【Host, you should eat something.】

“I’m not hungry.” She pulled her collar up to her chin, covering her neck from the mosquitoes’ view.

Rumble, rumble~

Her stomach rumbled again.

Helpless, Ning Shengsheng took out some dried pastries and chewed on them, swallowing with difficulty.

It wasn’t until the middle of the night that the swarm of Corrupting Winged Spiders began to stir. The spiders on the outer perimeter were the first to disperse, crawling away in the opposite direction from Ning Shengsheng.

Her almond eyes lit up. “Hehe, I knew it! They must be going out to hunt!”

Seeing her eagerness, the system quickly reminded her: 【Not now. Don’t take any risks. They won’t all leave when they hunt, and they don’t go far from each other. If one of them sounds an alarm, the others will fly back immediately!】

“So that’s how it is.”

Ning Shengsheng watched as only about twenty spiders were left guarding the spirit beast egg in the center. She made up her mind. “This is also their weakest moment, our only chance.” After all, they had been staked out all day, and the spiders hadn’t moved an inch.

“I’ll give it a try. If there’s danger, I’ll run.”

Seeing she had made up her mind, the system encouraged her: 【Go for it, Host!】

“Mm, don’t worry!” She feigned a relaxed air and brandished her storage pouch. “I have lots of treasures here!”

She then patted her chest. “And I have the Eight Treasures Mirror for protection. No problem.”

Ning Shengsheng took out a new Turtle’s Breath Pearl and held it in her mouth, slowly approaching through the bushes. She moved with extreme caution. The weather was already hot, and the night was hazy. She could only feel her way forward in the dark by the light of the moon.

The few minutes passed like years. Finally, she saw the spirit beast egg, surrounded by the Corrupting Winged Spiders. The eggshell was emitting a blue light.

The closer she got to success, the calmer she had to be.

She slowly drew the Flowing Fire Damask from her storage pouch. Ning Shengsheng’s plan was to sneak over, use this high-grade magical artifact to create a diversion with the falling fire, and while the swarm of beasts was in chaos, take the Huan Li egg.

Then, she would run back to the Frigid Spirit Pool. The Frigid Spirit Pool was protected by a barrier set up by Ning Xuan. Forget a few hundred fourth-rank demonic beasts; even a thousand couldn’t break through.

“Now!”

“Flowing Fire Damask, go!”

The long damask flew into the air, and a dense rain of crimson flames fell, sending the Corrupting Winged Spiders into a frenzy. She activated the Eight Treasures Mirror for protection and charged straight in. She snatched the spirit beast egg and ran, without a moment’s hesitation.

System: … Host, you really do cherish your life. That’s good!

Clutching the glowing egg with both hands, she glanced back at the Corrupting Winged Spiders, who had noticed something was wrong and were now pursuing her. Ning Shengsheng desperately slapped the talisman.

“You useless legs! Run!”

Unfortunately, no matter how powerful the Fleet-Foot Talisman was, it was still attached to a good-for-nothing like her. The Corrupting Winged Spiders opened and closed their wings, and they were quickly catching up.

With no other choice, Ning Shengsheng bit her index finger and dripped the blood onto the talisman. This was a heretical method she had learned from Xue Chen. Anything nourished with blood would surely have its effects amplified.

The Corrupting Winged Spider closest to Ning Shengsheng let out a shriek. The seventy spiders that had gone out to hunt came rushing back. She felt the ground shake. Blood dripped from her fingertip onto the talisman. Damn it, it still wasn’t fast enough!

“Hiss…”

What’s that burning smell?

She looked down and saw that the talisman had burned out! And she was still at least three kilometers from the mountaintop.

“Am I really going to die here?”

Ning Shengsheng’s legs felt incredibly heavy. Without the talisman’s boost, they were like lead weights. It was impossible to move a single step! A metallic taste filled her throat. She looked back. The distance she had so painstakingly created was easily closed by the swarm of spiders.

The system was even more anxious than she was: 【Host! You have to survive, Host! I can’t lose you!】 It didn’t want to have to find a new master!

The girl suddenly stopped running. She stood there, her small face pale, but her almond eyes were surprisingly bright. She let out a low laugh. “It’s okay. I’m the kind of person who will fight to survive even if I only have one breath left.”

She raised the back of her hand and wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth. She formed a hand seal, her lips moving as she quickly chanted an incantation.

【Host! Don’t use such a heretical method!】

The system, realizing what she was about to do, was almost scared out of its wits. Its cold, mechanical voice actually broke.

Someone save me! My hard-won host isn’t a villain, is she?