In the frigid lands, after my exile, I began to slay demons and monsters.

Chapter 21 Spirit Gathering Grass

[Tuanzi, why does this Lord Diwei Star not seem that powerful?] Ning Xiaoxi was slightly disappointed. She thought this Lord Disha would be as powerful as the one who captured the cat demon that night!

[This female demon is a bit strange.] Tuanzi shook her head in confusion. [Generally speaking, a demon below the intermediate level shouldn't be able to charm a Lord of the Earthly Fiends.]

Ning Xiaoxi pursed her lips. "You yourself said that the spiritual energy of heaven and earth is beginning to deplete, so perhaps the current Earthly Fiends are not what you knew before."

"Impossible, it's only been a few years..." The little dumpling was a bit exasperated.

"No matter what, he still couldn't beat that banshee, and she got away." Ning Xiaoxi said softly.

"No, no, something's definitely wrong." The little dumpling muttered unhappily as it disappeared.

Ning Xiaoxi rolled over and hugged her mother's arm, not wanting to comfort the little dumpling who was starting to doubt herself.

Upon entering the territory of Bingzhou, the exile procession moved slowly forward.

It was early spring, and the weather was still cold. The sky was overcast, and the thick clouds seemed ready to press down at any moment.

The howling north wind carried a biting chill as it swept across the hilly land, sending shivers down everyone's spines. Fortunately, the dirt roads, still frozen, were relatively firm and easy to walk on, preventing everyone from getting stuck in the mud.

The team had traveled a long way and everyone was exhausted.

At midday, the group stopped beside a relatively open valley to rest and recover their strength.

Ning Xiaoxi put down her basket and stretched her stiff body.

"Brother, let's go gather some dry branches and firewood."

"Xiaoxi, you stay and help your mother. I'll go with your father," Ning Ziqing said with a smile, stopping Ning Xiaoxi.

Ming Luoying took out an earthenware jar from her basket and poured the water from her water bag into it. "Xiaoxi, can you help your mother find some suitable stones nearby to build a stove?"

Ning Xiaoxi responded cheerfully, turned around and looked down to search the side, her gaze inadvertently sweeping towards a small hill next to her.

The hill was sparsely covered with vegetation, mostly hardy thorns and low shrubs. However, amidst the grayness, Ning Xiaoxi seemed to catch a glimpse of a unique shade of green. A thought struck her, her curiosity piqued, and she found herself drawn to the hill.

As she drew closer, Ning Xiaoxi saw the true form of the lush greenery more clearly. A dozen or so slender, spiraling blades of grass swayed gently in the wind, their tips shimmering with a faint, ethereal light, as if fragments of starlight had been scattered upon them.

Ning Xiaoxi was overjoyed. She was almost certain that this was the raw material for the spirit ink used to make talismans, which she had obtained from the memories of activating the rune restriction.

Ning Xiaoxi cautiously approached the Spirit Gathering Grass and crouched down to observe it closely. These Spirit Gathering Grasses grew on the sunny side of the hill, and the surrounding soil seemed to contain a faint trace of spiritual energy. She reached out and gently touched one of the leaves, feeling a cool sensation spread from her fingertips throughout her body, instantly invigorating her weary spirit.

"This Spirit Gathering Grass is a rare treasure," Ning Xiaoxi thought to herself. She knew that with the Spirit Gathering Grass, she could create Spirit Ink, which was crucial for drawing talismans. With Spirit Ink, her rune sealing skills could be used more effectively, providing her with an extra layer of protection during her exile, a journey filled with unknown dangers.

Ning Xiaoxi was immersed in joy when she suddenly heard footsteps behind her. She turned around and saw that it was her father, Ning Shi, walking over.

"Xiao Xi, what are you doing here?" Ning Shi asked.

Ning Xiaoxi excitedly pointed to the Spirit Gathering Grass and said, "Dad, look, this is the Spirit Gathering Grass, which is the raw material for making spirit ink. With it, I can draw talismans. Last time, I only used ordinary paper and pen in the post station to draw talismans. Although they had some effect, their power was actually very small. Only by drawing talismans with spirit ink can I obtain real runes."

Ning Shi looked in the direction Ning Xiaoxi pointed, a hint of surprise in his eyes. "This can be used to make spirit ink! How do you harvest it? How much can you make? You dig it out first, and then Daddy will check if there are any more around."

Ning Xiaoxi nodded and squatted down beside the Spirit Gathering Grass. She gently grasped the base of one of the grasses and carefully pried at the surrounding soil with her fingers. She was extremely careful, afraid of damaging the grass's root system.

As Ning Xiaoxi dug for the Spirit Gathering Grass, fine snowflakes began to fall from the sky. The snowflakes drifted down, landing on Ning Xiaoxi's shoulders and hair, but they did nothing to affect her concentration. Her eyes were firm and bright. Regardless of what kind of constitution Tuanzi had given her, having accepted this fate, she would make the demons who were about to encounter her tremble!

Before long, Ning Xiaoxi successfully dug out the dozen or so Spirit Gathering Grasses. After digging, she saw a faint spiritual light emanating from the base of the grass roots. Ning Xiaoxi brushed away the surface soil and looked with delight at the several fluorescent stone fragments. "They're spirit crystals."

She held the spirit-gathering grass and spirit crystal in her hands, examining them carefully. With these, she could make spirit ink.

"Xiao Xi, there are still some here," Ning Shi's voice came.

Ning Xiaoxi looked up and saw Ning Shi waving at her from the other side of the hill.

"Hey, you're here." Ning Xiaoxi jogged over to Ning Shi's side and saw that not far from his feet, there were still a dozen or so Spirit Gathering Grasses swaying in the wind and snow.

Ning Xiaoxi happily squatted down, ready to reach out and dig again.

Ning Shi took Ning Xiaoxi's muddy hand and said, "Father, come here."

Ning Xiaoxi smiled as she watched her father carefully dig into the still-hard soil with his fingers. "Thank you, Dad."

Ning Shi watched as snowflakes drifted down onto the Spirit Gathering Grass. The spiritual light on the grass blades met the snowflakes, and a faint fragrance wafted out. "Xiao Xi, how do we make Spirit Ink from this Spirit Gathering Grass?"

Ning Xiaoxi pondered for a moment and said, "I once read in an ancient book that to make spirit ink, you need to wash the spirit-gathering grass, then grind it into juice in a stone mortar, add some spirit crystal powder that has the effect of harmonizing spiritual power, and finally refine it to obtain spirit ink." Ning Xiaoxi then took out the spirit crystal she had just dug out, "Father, look, at the base of the spirit-gathering grass, there is also this kind of companion spirit crystal. This spirit crystal can be ground into powder to harmonize the spiritual power of the spirit-gathering grass and refine spirit ink."

Ning Shi looked at Ning Xiaoxi with relief in his eyes. "Xiaoxi, have you ever thought about participating in the selection of the Celestial Master Pavilion?" Ever since he helped Ding You lift the curse at the post station, he had been worried about whether his daughter's ability was a good thing or a bad thing. He just didn't know how to bring it up with his daughter.

Ning Xiaoxi smiled and said, "Father, I was surprised to gain this ability. I didn't expect that just by practicing according to the records in the classics, I would have such an ability. How can I compare to the Celestial Masters of the Celestial Master Pavilion? Besides, I just want to be with my family." Ning Xiaoxi gathered the Spirit Gathering Grass and Spirit Crystals that Ning Shi had dug up and gave Ning Shi a big smile.

Just then, Ning Ziqing came over carrying an empty basket. "Dad, little sister, come on, put it here." It turned out that Ning Ziqing had just finished collecting firewood when she saw her father and little sister digging something together, so she quickly came over with the basket.

Ning Xiaoxi packed the nearly thirty spirit-gathering herbs and a few stones and spirit crystals into her basket, then moved a flat stone slab. "Let's go, let's go help Mother build the stove."

Ning Ziqing slung his basket over his shoulder and followed along, carrying a stone slab from the ground.

Ning Shi looked at the two siblings with amusement. Although the journey had been arduous, the family was fortunate to be together.